§ 44. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease being traceable to Irish cattle imported into Great Britain, he will institute inquiries as to the present system of inspection of Irish cattle before shipment and consider as to the appointment of British veterinary officers at the Irish ports to inspect all shipments of cattle from Ireland to British ports?
§ Mr. CHARLETON (Lord of the Treasury)All animals brought to Great Britain from Northern Ireland or the Irish Free State are required to be shipped from specified ports only and to be accompanied by a certificate of a veterinary officer appointed by the respective Government to the effect that the animals were inspected by him immediately prior to shipment and found free from disease. My right hon. Friend is satisfied from the inquiries which he has made that the animals which were responsible for the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into this country on the 11th June showed no clinical evidence of foot-and-mouth disease when examined either at the ports of shipment in Ireland or at the landing places in this country.
§ Mr. MILLARWill the hon. Member convey to the Minister the fact that there is a strong feeling that the general system of inspection should be reconsidered with a view to further precautions being taken?
§ Mr. CHARLETONCertainly.
§ Mr. SKELTONDoes not this show the necessity of having a proper period of quarantine so that our herds shall not be infected from the lower-class herds in Ireland?
§ Mr. CHARLETONThat is beyond me.
§ 47. Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of Agriculture the latest developments in connection with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland; the number of districts affected; the number of cases in which the existence of the disease has been confirmed; and the number of animals destroyed?
§ Mr. CHARLETONSince ray right hon. Friend's statement in this House on Monday, two further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed in Scotland, one at Scone and the other at Kinrossie, both in the county of Perth and Kinross. Fifty-five cattle, 127 sheep and six pigs have been destroyed in connection with these cases. No extension of the existing infected areas in Scotland was necessitated by these further outbreaks.
§ Mr. MILLARDo I understand that these are later figures; or is the hon. Member simply repeating what was stated on Monday?
§ Mr. CHARLETONMy reply says "Since my right hon. Friend's statement."