§ 77. Mr. HAYESasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to interfere with the methods of local administration in carrying out the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Acts; whether he has received representations from the health committee of the Liverpool City Council objecting to the appointment of chief constables as chief inspectors under the Acts; and whether his Department has made any inquiry into the efficiency of the present administration by the 1038 veterinary superintendent and his officers and the professional and qualified inspectors experienced in animal diseases and the control and prevention thereof?
Mr. GUINNESSCertain recommendations affecting the local administration of the Diseases of Animals Acts were made by the Departmental Committee on Foot and Mouth Disease in their Report (Cmd. 2350) of February 1925, and were communicated to local authorities in circulars issued in July and January last. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part I have made full inquiries into the present methods of administration and while I still consider that in counties the appointment of the chief constable as chief inspector is conducive to efficiency, I have decided to leave the appointment of chief inspectors entirely to the discretion of local authorities.