§ 19. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture the most recent position as regards foot-and-mouth disease; and how many animals were treated with foot-and-mouth disease serum during the recent outbreaks, and with what result?
§ Sir J. GILMOURTwenty-three cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed in Great Britain since 1st August last, of which seven have occurred since 1st September. The most recent out- 789 break was confirmed yesterday at Graffham, Huntingdonshire. Infected area restrictions are at present in force in three districts, namely, within areas of 15 miles radius of Grafham, Huntingdonshire, and of Walsall, Staffs, and an area covering five miles radius of two infected places in adjacent parishes in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Since 1st August last, 375 cattle, 631 sheep, 514 pigs and 1 goat have been treated with foot-and-mouth disease serum. The disease appeared in only one instance among treated stock in this period, namely, on 30th August, when five cattle went down out of a number of animals which bad been inoculated with serum 13 days previously.
§ Sir J. GILMOURI think that it is too early to form any definite conclusion.
§ Captain GUNSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the position in regard to foot-and-mouth disease is more favourable than last year?
| The latest date for which complete figures are available is the 1st January, 1931. The following statement shows the number of persona in receipt of poor relief on that date and the number of persons of certain classes in receipt of poor relief on subsequent dates. | |||
| — | Number on 1st January, 1931. | Number on latest available date. | |
| Number. | Date. | ||
| 1. Persons in receipt of poor relief, excluding rate-aided patients in mental hospitals, casuals, and persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only— | |||
| (i) Institutional Relief | 212,166 | 193,159 | 5th September, 1931. |
| (ii) Domiciliary Relief | 775,072 | 776,735 | |
| Totals of 1 | 987,238 | 969,894 | |
| 2. Rate-aided patients in mental hospitals | 108,917 | — | |
| 3. Casuals | 11,576 | 13,239 | 5th September, 1931. |
| 4. Persons in receipt of domiciliary medical relief only. | 16,119 | 13,218 | 27th June, 1931. |
| Total | 1,123,850 | — |
§ 27. Mr. HERRIOTTSasked the Minister of Health how many persons are now in receipt of outdoor Poor Law relief in the administrative area of the county of Durham, and the numbers in 1928 and 1929?
§ Sir J. GILM0URI am afraid I could not say.
§ Mr. SMITHERSDoes the Minister still consider that the best way of counteracting this disease is by slaughtering and the burning of the carcases?
§ Sir J. GILMOURYes, certainly.