§ 41. Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that, when an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs in this country, the Ministry's officials demand that all vehicles coming near to an infected farm and the farmer's car, if he has one, shall be thoroughly disinfected, he will consider the desirability of insisting that all cars coming from the Continent, where foot-and-mouth disease exists, shall be subject to the same treatment as a safeguard against importing into this country the virus on the wheels or bodies; and whether, in any case, he will arrange that such cars shah be washed before being allowed to land in the country?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe requirement to which my hon. Friend refers in the first part of the question relates to vehicles leaving farm premises on which an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has occurred. Other vehicles coming near to an infected farm are not required to be disinfected since it is considered that the serious inconvenience which would result would not be justified by the slight risk involved. For similar reasons my right 20 hon. Friend is unable to accept the suggestion in the last part of the question.
§ 42. Mr. Shortasked the Minister of Agriculture what action is being taken to investigate the theory that foot-and-mouth disease is being carried by birds from the Continent?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe theory that the present series of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the eastern and southern counties of England is to be attributed mainly to infection carried by mass migration of birds, is based on circumstantial evidence only. The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee now proposes to carry out a series of experiments to ascertain whether birds are susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, or are capable of transmitting the virus mechanically.
§ 43. Mr. Shortasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in America during the last five years?
§ Mr. RamsbothamNo outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded in Canada or the United States of America during the last five years. My right hon. Friend has no precise information as to the extent of the existence of that disease in Central or South America.
§ Mr. RamsbothamNo. Sir, I do not think I can.
§ Mr. RamsbothamI cannot give the information without making inquiries. I will let the hon. Member know.
§ Captain GunstonIs it not likely that the freedom in America and Canada is due to the fact that they are much further from the Continent than are the British Isles?