§ 35. Sir PERCY HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the same Regulations are applied to cattle entering Great Britain from the Irish Free State and Canada, respectively; and, if not, what is the reason for any differentiation in the treatment of these two Dominions?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. It will be recollected that following the report of the Royal Commission on the Importation of Canadian Cattle in 1921 Parliament passed Resolutions in favour of such importation. The precise conditions under which Canadian cattle were to be admitted into Great Britain were then agreed at a conference between representatives of the home and Dominions Governments. This agreement was embodied in the Importation of Animals Act, 1922, which is still operative. In the case of Canadian store cattle, however, the conditions governing movement after landing in Great Britain are identical with those applying to cattle from the Irish Free State.
§ Sir P. HURDCan my right hon. Friend say whether it is true to say that in any respect cattle of the Irish Free State are more favourably treated than cattle from Canada?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROnly in one respect. As far as I understand, non-pedigree breeding heifers are not permitted to come in from Canada at the present time.