§ 37. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of deaths among pigs from pig erysipelas during each of the years 1922, 1923 and 1924?
Mr. WOODAs swine erysipelas is not a scheduled disease, outbreaks and deaths are not reported to my Department, and I regret, therefore, that the desired particulars are not available.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLECannot the right hon. Gentleman give any kind of estimate of the severity of these deaths?
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEThree per cent. on the whole stock?
Mr. WOOD—but I would rather not answer the question without notice, as I do not want to mislead my hon. and gallant Friend. If he will put the question down, I will give him as precise an estimate as I can.
§ 38. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the value of the specific vaccine and serum, at present only obtainable from the Continent, for the prevention of pig erysipelas; and if he will arrange for this remedy to be stocked by veterinary surgeons throughout this country?
Mr. WOODThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would point out that for the last 20 years the Ministry has issued a leaflet on swine erysipelas, which, amongst other things, describes vaccine and serum treatment. I understand that at present supplies are only obtainable from the Continent, because the demand has not been such as to encourage firms in this country to stock the material. I have no power to arrange for this remedy to be stocked by veterinary surgeons throughout the country, but no doubt veterinary surgeons and firms will do so if pig owners will show them that there is a sufficient demand.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEWould it not be advisable to arrange that there should be such a provision, which would obviously be to the advantage of the agricultural interest?
Mr. WOODObviously, the desirability of such a provision would depend upon the demand. If there is a demand, there will be provision.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEShould not the right hon. Gentleman's Department be ahead of the demand, for the sake of the educational value?
Mr. WOODWe were so far in front of the demand that some years ago we 931 obtained a large supply of this serum, and the demand was so small that it was left on our hands.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEWas not that due to lack of educational propaganda on the part of the Department?
§ Sir R. THOMASDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the request which is now being made to him tampers with the principles of Protection?