§ 33. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the lesions which indicate foot-and-mouth disease are most apparent in the head and feet of animals, he rill issue a regulation that in all future importations of chilled meat from the Argentine or elsewhere the head, tongue included, and feet are attached to the carcass?
Mr. GUINNESSThe suggested regulation would not be effective in preventing the importation of possibly infective carcases because animals may be killed when in the incubative stages of the disease before they develop lesions, and their carcases do not show recognisable signs of the disease. To prevent carcases of animals which have been killed when in the incubative stages of the disease from being imported into Britain, the Ministry requested the South American Governments not only to prohibit the export to Britain of all carcases of infected animals, but also of any animals which had been in immediate contact with them, and laws have been passed by those Governments to give effect to the Ministry's suggestions. I am confident that these laws will be effectively enforced and that they will afford a greater protection than
| The following STATEMENT shows (in terms of grain) the quantities of the total imports of Wheat and of Wheat Meal and Flour into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered during the year 1927 and the first three months of 1928; and the proportions which such imports bear to the total imports of Wheat, Wheat Meat and Flour. | ||
| — | Year 1927. | Jan. to March, 1928. |
| Tons. | Tons | |
| Total Imports of Wheat (Grain) | 5,521,791 | 1,323,271 |
| Total Imports of Wheat Meal and Flour (approximate Grain equivalent). | 760,885 | 160,558 |
| Proportion of total imports of Wheat, Wheat Meal and Flour: | Per cent. | Per cent. |
| Wheat | 87.9 | 89.2 |
| Wheat Meal and Flour | 12.1 | 10.8 |
| The grain equivalent of imported meal and flour has been estimated on the basis of an extraction of 72 per cent. flour and 28 per cent. offals. |
§ the regulation suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. HURDIs the Minister aware of the fact that the agricultural community here is profoundly disturbed at the present position, and does he not think that it wants reviewing?
Mr. GUINNESSI do not think it would be sound to adopt the illusory safeguard of imposing an obligation in regard to the importing of these heads and feet, seeing that they would not necessarily show infection.
§ Mr. HURDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on that point he is in disagreement with high scientific opinion?
Mr. GUINNESSI am not aware of that fact. I think there has never been any dispute on the point, but that there is overwhelming evidence that carcases may be infected without the infection being shown.