§ 74. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that there is no foot-and-mouth disease in the Irish Free State, and that there is already a Customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, he will differentiate between exports of cattle coming from the Irish Free State and those that come from Northern Ireland?
§ 76. Mr. ROSSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he Is aware that no cattle from County Down are shipped from Londonderry; and whether, in view of this fact and the remoteness of County Londonderry from the area of foot-and-mouth disease infection, he will consider the possibility of permitting the export of cattle from Londonderry with a certificate as to their origin being outside the infectious area?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Dr. Addison)I have no official information is to the actual places of origin of cattle originally shipped from Londonderry to Great Britain. On the 23rd June I was informed by the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland that disease was estimated to have existed unreported in County Down since the first week in June. A period of 12 days therefore elapsed before the Government of Northern Ireland were aware of the existence of the disease, and movements of animals during the interval in that county were uncontrolled. According to information received from Northern Ireland, 10 outbreaks had been confirmed up to 23rd June. In the circumstances it is too early yet to consider the question of the resumption of imports of animals from any part of Ireland.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish Free State have at present a clean bill of health, that they have an embargo on the import of cattle from Northern Ireland, and that there are 3,000 cattle, 4,000 sheep and 800 pigs in lairages; and cannot he take steps to mitigate——
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not see how the Minister can be expected to be aware of all that.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYMay I have an answer, as it is a very important matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe answer has been given by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYI was asking the Minister whether he cannot take steps, in view of this hardship, to mitigate the seventy of the Order.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has taken a long time to put that question.
§ 75. Mr. ROSBOTHAMasked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made in research and scientific investigation with respect to foot-and-mouth disease: and if he will consider the possibility of the isolation of animals that have been in contact with the disease instead of slaughtering?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee, which was appointed in 1924, has already published three progress reports. The investigations of that committee are being continued on the lines laid down in the committees' third report. Valuable additions have been made to the knowledge already acquired, and a fourth progress report is expected to be issued shortly. I have within the past few days discussed future plans of research with members of the committee. As regards the latter part of the question, the methods at present adopted appear to be necessary in the present state of our knowledge, and they were unanimously endorsed by the reports of two Departmental Committees which Inquired into this question in 1922 and 1925, following the extensive outbreaks which occurred in this country from 1922 to 1924.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman any knowledge of how they conduct these things in France?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have a certain amount of information, but it does not arise out of the question.
§ 77. Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information to give the House about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in this country; and whether he can hold out any hopes of a relaxation of the standstill order for the movement of live stock, in view of the losses which it is causing?
§ Dr. ADDISONUp to 11 a.m. to-day a total of 43 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease had been confirmed in Great Britain. Twenty-four of these have occurred in England and 19 in Scotland. These cases have so far been confined to Cumberland, Durham, Westmorland, Lancashire and the North Riding of Yorkshire in England, and to Perth and Kinross, Angus, Fifeshire and Kincardine in Scotland. If no further outbreaks occur outside the existing infected areas, I will be prepared to consider the question of releasing certain parts of the country from the operation of the standstill order as from 1st July.
§ Mr. PRICEWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Eve stock shows are coming on shortly, and the serious loss that will be incurred if these shows do not take place?
§ Dr. ADDISONWe do bear that in mind, but the prime consideration must be to stop the spread of the disease.
§ Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONHow many of the outbreaks are primary and how-many secondary?
§ Dr. ADDISONIt depends on what the hon. Gentleman means by "primary."
§ Sir D. NEWTON"Primary" is the original outbreak to which subsequent outbreaks can be traced.
§ Dr. ADDISONSo far as I am aware, the animals affected have come from Ireland——
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYNorthern Ireland.
§ Dr. ADDISONFrom Northern Ireland. It is immaterial whether the outbreak is primary or secondary. The point is that the infection exists.
§ Major GEORGE DAVIESCan the right hon. Gentleman say anything about 621 the rumours of an outbreak in Wiltshire, and whether it has been proved to be actually a case?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have had a case under inquiry, but up to the present time it has not been confirmed.
§ Mr. McGOVERNCan the outbreak of this disease be traced to the Soviet?