26. Major MILLSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give compensation to those smallholders who are commoners of the New Forest and who have suffered much loss and inconvenience by being prevented from exercising their right to depasture their cattle in the open forest, owing to the restrictions imposed by the Ministry in connection with the recent cases of foot-and-mouth disease on private premises at Sway and near Lymington?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe Diseases of Animals Acts make no provision for the payment of compensation in connection with measures taken to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease except to owners in respect of animals slaughtered compulsorily, and I regret I am not able to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. I am glad, however, to state that it was possible to withdraw the restrictions from the area referred to as from 20th November.