§ 29. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that there is no evidence as to the danger of infection to British livestock from imported pigment which was consumed as pork, and that it is impossible to distinguish between pork imported for consumption and for other purposes, he will state whether before issuing a general embargo against pork imports from the Continent any inquiry, Departmental or otherwise, was held as to the possibility of distinguishing between pork as imported for the last three years to the London meat market and pigs unscalded and unscraped, such as were alleged to have caused foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland?
Mr. GUINNESSNo, Sir. As I have already stated, scalding and scraping of a pork pig does net destroy the virus. The scraping off of the epidermis which follows the scalding merely makes the disease more difficult to detect.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that unless something is done between now and September, when pork comes into season, that there is a prospect of the price jumping up another 25 per cent.?
Mr. GUINNESSThat is not the advice I have received. I am told that the present position of the London market is quite exceptional, and there is no reason for supposing that if London buys its pork from the rest of the country that any considerable change in the price will result.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many parts of the country the price of store pigs has increased considerably?
Mr. GUINNESSThere are fluctuations every year. There is no side of agriculture which suffers more from gluts and shortages.
§ Mr. LUMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the North of England the price of pork has declined by half a crown per score during the last few weeks?
§ Mr. THORNEWhat is your evidence?