§ 23. Mr. W. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience caused by the double-dipping regulations to sheep farmers on the Cumberland-Northumberland border; and whether, in order to lessen these border difficulties, he can see his way to delimit an area less in extent than the county of Cumberland, in which the double-dipping order would remain compulsory?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The regulations referred to are necessary to prevent the introduction of sheep scab from the remainder of Great Britain into Scotland and Northumberland, which, after a vigorous campaign of double-dipping, are comparatively free from the disease. Four fresh outbreaks of this disease have been confirmed this month near the southern borders of Cumberland and Northumberland, and, in view of the normal freedom of movement of sheep throughout Cumberland, any delimitation of an area by a boundary other than the well-recognised county boundary would, I believe, cause more inconvenience than it would obviate and would materially increase the risk of the spread of disease. I regret, therefore, I am not able to adopt the suggestion made in the second part of the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. THORNEIs there any protection for the people who handle the sheep dip, because it is a very dangerous substance?
§ Sir FRANCIS ACLANDindicated dissent.
§ Mr. THORNEOh, yes, it is.