§ 32. Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in consideration of the fact that Argentina and Belgium are both now free from foot-and-mouth disease, and also in view of the formation of a combine which may raise the price of meat, he will, for the benefit of the poorer class of consumers, withdraw the embargo on the importation into this country of fresh meat from Argentine cattle slaughtered at Zeebrugge?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)According to the latest information in my possession, neither Argentina nor Belgium is free from foot-and-mouth disease, and I cannot therefore accede to the hon Baronet's request.
§ Sir R. THOMASCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the scientific difference between a carcase of Argentine meat slaughtered at and exported from the abattoir at Zeebrugge and a carcase of Argentine meat slaughtered in and exported from South America?
§ Mr. GUINNESSWe have had serious experience of the risk from foot-and-mouth disease breaking out in this country when we bring cargoes of live animals across from the Argentine, and it was because of the serious results of that traffic that we had to put an embargo on live stock being brought from the Argentine many years ago.
§ Sir R. THOMASBut is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this chilled meat is coming continually from South America? His answer hardly answers my question.
§ Mr. GUINNESSThere is no evidence whatever that infection has been brought in by chilled meat, but we have had evidence of infection being brought in from the Continent, and this Zeebrugge abattoir is close by and not free from the danger of infection from the various outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which takes place abroad.
Commander WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that his Department will take every possible step to secure that the country is not infected with foot-and-mouth disease, and run no risks whatever?
§ Mr. GUINNESSCertainly I shall not be inclined to run any kind of risk in this matter for the particular purpose of enabling Argentine meat to come in indistinguishable from our home-killed meat and getting a price which the consumer pays in the expectation of getting home-killed meat.
Sir R.THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman not admit right away that he is going in for a system of protection?
§ Mr. GUINNESSProtection against disease.