§ 30. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is in a position to announce a modification of the Order relating to the movement of cattle in Great Britain?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am awaiting certain information which, if favourable, will, I hope, enable me to release a considerable part of England and the north-west of Scotland within the next two days.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of relaxing the Regulations as far as agricultural shows are concerned?
§ Dr. ADDISONIf the shows are within the areas which we hope to be able to release, but we could not do anything outside those areas.
Brigadier-General BROWNCan the right hon. Gentleman make any announcement as regards the Royal Show?
§ Dr. ADDISONI cannot make a definite statement, because, unfortunately, we have had to investigate information which came to hand this morning. Otherwise, I should have been able to give a much better reply.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARWill the right hon. Gentleman consider releasing the movement of cattle in the north-east of Scotland at the earliest possible moment?
§ Dr. ADDISONI do not think I can go beyond what I have said.
33. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the serum treatment suggested in the Ministry's letter of 22nd September, 1930, is being applied to any of the animals exposed to infection in the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and what has been the result of any experiments in that direction up to date?
§ Dr. ADDISON922 cattle, 2,692 sheep and 68 pigs have been treated with foot-and-mouth disease serum in connection with the present outbreaks of the disease. It is too early yet to make any statement as to the results of the treatment in these cases.
§ Major GEORGE DAVIESCan the right hon. Gentleman say anything about the rumoured case in Wiltshire? Has that been confirmed?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am glad to say that it has not been confirmed.
§ 34. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there are detained since 17th June at the various lairages at the ports of debarkation in England 3,000 cattle, 4,000 lambs, and 800 pigs which are in a distressed condition, having come from pasture lands in the Irish Free State where no foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered; and seeing that the Irish Free State have an embargo on all livestock coming from Northern Ireland, whether he can see his way to modify the present regulations and their term of detention?
§ Dr. ADDISONThese animals have been kept under expert observation and when the maximum period of likelihood of infection, without any manifestation of disease, has expired, they will be released under our licence. I regret that I cannot at present consent to a modification of the restrictions on the importation of cattle from Ireland.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, first, that there is no disease whatever in the Irish Free State; secondly, that these animals have been detained for 13 days, although the disease appears within from four to six days; and can he not therefore give an order for their release, seeing that they have been detained now for twice the requisite time?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is misinformed. In one case which we had, the disease occurred on the thirteenth day. Therefore, we are bound to allow a margin for safety.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKIs the right hon. Gentleman keeping under expert observation any of the patient oxen who are showing signs of restiveness?
§ Mr. KINLEYIs it a fact that cattle are detained at ports of landing for several days, in a distressed condition?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo, Sir. That is not so. The cattle are being well looked after, but they are bound to be detained 878 until it is seen whether they are infected or not. I have no intention whatever of releasing them at present.