HC Deb 01 July 1931 vol 254 cc1275-6
54 and 55. Colonel HOWARD-BURY

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether, seeing that the Irish Free State have a clean bill of health as regards foot-and-mouth disease, he can now relax the severity of the regulations forbidding the import of cattle from Southern Ireland;

(2) whether, seeing that the period of incubation of foot-and-mouth disease is from four to six days, and that for all cattle a six days' detention is a statutory requirement, and seeing that after this detention outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease appeared simultaneously in various places in England and at one place in Northern Ireland, he can yet state what was the cause of all the outbreaks; and will he investigate other possible causes of the outbreak, and in the meanwhile suspend the embargo against the importation of cattle from Ireland?

Dr. ADDISON

The evidence clearly shows that foot-and-mouth disease was introduced in Great Britain by cattle shipped from Belfast on the 10th June to Heysham and Ayr. Some of these cattle came direct from premises on which, according to information furnished by the Minister of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, disease must have existed since the first week in June. According to the latest information received from Northern Ireland, the origin of the outbreak in that country has not yet been established. I am carefully considering the question whether any modification of the embargo on animals from Ireland can now be made with safety, and I will make an announcement as soon as possible.

Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Seeing that there has been no foot-and-mouth disease for many years past, and that it might come from some imported foreign substance, such as oats or, possibly, butter, will the right hon. Gentleman put an embargo on such foreign stuffs, which might have led to the disease, until this country is completely clear?

Sir K. WOOD

On a point of Order. Have you not forgotten, Mr. Speaker, to call my Question No. 48?

Colonel HOWARD-BURY

In my Question No. 55 I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can say what was the origin of the disease, and I am now simply asking whether he could not put an embargo on certain substances which might have to do with it?

Mr. SPEAKER

That really does not arise out of the question on the Paper.