§ 2. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received the report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's Mission, of which his chief veterinary officer was a member, that recently inquired into the foot-and-mouth disease problem in South America; and if he will arrange for the publication of the findings and recommendations.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Hare)The Mission will report to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. I am sure the report will, in due course, be made available to member Governments. I shall be glad to continue to keep my hon. Friend informed.
§ Mr. HurdWill my right hon. Friend keep much in mind that the Royal Agricultural Society, the National Farmers' 2 general, are very much interested in this problem of South American foot-and-mouth disease because we have so much trouble here from it? Will my right hon. Friend carry on the conversations he initiated last year so that we can reach some satisfactory arrangement?
§ Mr. HareYes, most certainly. I should like to give my hon. Friend an absolutely categorical assurance that I shall be delighted to do that.
§ Mr. ChampionThe right hon. Gentleman said that he would keep the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) informed. Will he also keep the House informed?
§ Mr. HareIt was my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) who asked the Question. Of course I will keep the House informed. I am sure the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Champion) is just as capable of asking a Question as is my hon. Friend.