§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps during the Recess to prevent the further spread of foot-and-mouth-disease?
§ LORD EMLYalso inquired whether precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the disease to Ireland?
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY, in reply, said, that no Notice having been given of these Questions, he was imperfectly prepared to answer them. He knew little or nothing as to whether any precautions had been taken, or whether 808 they were proposed to be taken by the Department presided over by his noble Friend who was absent (Earl Spencer), to prevent the spread of the disease during the Recess. The noble Lord opposite (Lord Stanley of Alderley) had probably been led to put his Question in consequence of an erroneous statement getting abroad that there was no foot-and-mouth disease in England. Unfortunately that statement was inaccurate, there having been 40 cases in one county, and 35 in another. He believed there was no foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland. There was no reason to doubt that his noble Friend the Lord President of the Council would take every measure possible to prevent the spread of the disease. His noble Friend (Lord Emly) might feel assured that the Department would take every precaution to prevent the disease reaching Ireland.