HC Deb 19 February 1963 vol 672 cc274-6
Mr. Soames

I beg to move, in page 9, tine 33, to leave out "or"

The Chairman

It will be convenient to discuss with this Amendment that in page 9, line 33, after "eggs" to insert "or fertilisers".

Mr. Soames

When this Clause was before the Standing Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Bullard) tabled an Amendment to add both fertilisers and feedingstuffs to the scope of the Clause. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary was able to assure the Committee that that part of the Amendment referring to feedingstuffs was covered by the word "fodder" in the Clause. He promised to look further into the arguments for taking powers to seize fertilisers if necessary.

As was said at the time by my hon. Friend, these additional powers have not previously been necessary we have not felt the need for them. On the other hand, on reading what was said during the debate in Committee, I could not help feeling that our disease control measures called for every possible vigilance. Certainly it is better to be safe than sorry. I do not see what we can lose by adding fertilisers to the list, as was suggested by my right hon. Friend. If we were to have to seize them for the purpose of disease control, we should want to pay appropriate compensation for them as we should for anything else which had to be seized for the same reason.

That is why I have tabled the Amendments on recommittal. I acknowledge the interest shown by hon. Members concerned with this Clause in their desire to see our precautions strengthened in this way. I hope that the Committee will accept the Amendment.

Mr. Frederick Peart (Workington)

We on this side agree with the Minister. This point was ventilated in Committee. We are all anxious that the control should be effective, and the addition of fertilisers and feedingstuffs to the list will probably close a gap. We should err on the side of certainty. We should support any proposal which improved disease control by the seizure of carcases which spread disease. I think that the Minister has made his case for the Amendment, and I see no reason why anyone should make a long speech on it.

Mr. Turton

I thank my right hon. Friend for this concession. Those who sell fertilisers and who have examined the Bill were worried about the omission of the word "fertilisers". My right hon. Friend has taken a very wise and helpful action in acceding to the request which we made in Committee.

5.15 p.m.

Mr. Woodburn

Fertilisers include many things, such as some city refuse which is ground into fertilisers. This often contains glass. If there were an undue proportion of glass fragments in the refuse which did damage to cattle, would that be considered as a disease?

Mr. Soames

That is not the purpose. This has nothing to do with whether the feedingstuffs or fertilisers have damaged cattle. If it is necessary forcibly to seize fodder or straw, for instance, which has been on a farm where there has been a disease and to destroy it in order to comply with the regulations, compensation will be payable. This has nothing to do with glass.

Mr. R. J. Maxwell-Hyslop (Tiverton)

I should like my right hon. Friend to confirm one point. These Amendments give him power to seize fertilisers under certain conditions. Do they give him power to pay compensation for the fertilisers so seized?

Mr. Soames

Yes; that is the purpose.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 9, line 33, after "eggs", insert "or fertilisers".—[Mr. Soames]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, with Amendments: as amended (in Committee and on recommittal), considered.