§ 48. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the protective injections now available, he will take steps to reduce the time dogs entering this country have to spend in quarantine.
§ Mr. HoyNo, Sir. Unfortunately vaccination does not protect in every case and will not cure animals already infected.
§ Mr. WallHow many years has this period of quarantine been enforced? Is ii not a fact that medical science has made considerable progress during this time? Will the hon. Gentleman look at this again because of the hardship and expense which it causes to owners of dogs?
§ Mr. HoyThe rule has been enforced for many years, as the hon. Gentleman knows. Rabies is a terrible disease. Once it is established among wild life, it is impossible to eradicate. Any Government worth their salt must see that it does not prevail.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamHas the hon. Gentleman any knowledge of certain cases of dogs coming in under this period of quarantine through Eire?
Dr. KerrWould my hon. Friend please make it clear that rabies has no known cure and that even one case being imported into this country might rapidly extend this terrible disease to wild life and then to the human community?
§ Mr. HoyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that Question. I had hoped 430 that, in reply to the first supplementary, I had made this clear. This would be a tremendous danger. If any Government took any action which allowed this to happen, they could not escape responsibility for what might be a grave danger throughout the country.