HC Deb 21 February 1929 vol 225 cc1303-4
56. Sir HARRY HOPE

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the repeated outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and the loss thereby caused to agricultural interests and to the national Exchequer, he can take steps to secure that hay and straw, as packing materials, coming from countries where the disease is known to exist shall be discontinued?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)

No outbreaks in recent years have been attributed to imported hay and straw used as packing materials. My hon. Friend's proposal was fully considered by the Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease, who in their Report issued in 1925 stated that to impose a prohibition or to require the destruction at the port of all hay and straw used as packing materials would involve an interference with our overseas trade in the many articles habitually packed in hay and straw of such a far-reaching character as could only be justified by an overwhelming case. I concur with the Committee in thinking that there is no evidence which would justify such a prohibition.

Sir H. HOPE

Has the Minister of Agriculture considered that, if an alternative packing material were used that was free from risk of contamination such as wood wool and other things of that kind, this end would be secured?

Mr. GUINNESS

A Committee has gone into that question, and they found that there was no evidence of outbreaks around towns where this packing material was likely to cause danger, and until we have some evidence we really could not justify putting our industrial production to the inconvenience of such a regulation.

Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Irish Free State there is this prohibition of hay and straw as packing material, and that it has been very successful in keeping out foot-and-mouth disease?

Mr. GUINNESS

I speak subject to correction, but I think there is a regulation in the United States, in Canada, the Irish Free State and other countries imposing an obligation to destroy, or to import with certificates of disinfection, and that is a different matter. I do not think we can impose such a regulation without evidence.