§ 47. Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture how many birds have been ordered to be killed due to fowl pest in Great Britain; and how many birds from pest-infected countries have been imported during this same time.
Mr. T. WilliamsThe number of birds slaughtered between February, 1947, and the end of 1950 by direction of my Department on account of fowl pest is about 400,000. A record of the number of birds imported into Great Britain from countries where the disease is prevalent is not kept, but about 7,800 tons of fowls, 13,000 tons of geese and ducks and 8,300 tons of turkeys came from such countries during the period. At a conservative estimate, there could not have been less than 9 million birds imported.
§ Captain DuncanAre the fowls from Gambia included in that total?
§ Captain DuncanWill the right hon. Gentlemen read the answer given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the House yesterday?
§ Sir H. WilliamsWhy is it that the order the right hon. Gentleman made in December on this subject has not yet been presented to Parliament?
§ Mr. BossomWill the right hon. Gentleman publish month by month the numbers of birds imported and killed?