FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. (Hansard, 13 February 1900)

§ LORD BURGHCLERE

My Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government; what number of cattle have been slaughtered during the present outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and over what area do the restrictions extend; what was the date of the notification of the first suspected outbreak, and the date of its confirmation by the Board of Agriculture; and whether the Board of Agriculture have any reason to believe that the disease existed unnotified before the first suspected outbreak was reported to them. I am quite certain I need not assure Her Majesty's Government that in putting this question I have not the slightest intention of throwing any reflection upon the officials of the Board of Agriculture, whose skill and ability in dealing with the suppression of disease I so very well know. But I think that agricultural interests generally would be glad to receive some official intelligence as to the spread of this outbreak, which appears to be rather serious. I would lay particular stress on the latter part of my question—namely, whether the Board of Agriculture have any reason to believe that the disease existed unnotified before the first suspected outbreak was reported to them. As your Lordships are aware, foot and mouth disease is one of the very highest infectivity, and if it gets hold of 1355 a district it spreads like wildfire, doing damage to agricultural interests to the extent of hundreds of thousands of pounds. I am afraid it sometimes happens—it only happens, I am glad to say, in a very few instances—that through a mistaken idea of his own interests a farmer does not report a suspected case in time, but I hope that has not occurred on this occasion. I should be glad of an assurance on the subject. It cannot be too often laid down that it is to the interest of the farmer, to the interest of the public purse, and to the interest of the agricultural body at large that every suspected outbreak should be reported as soon as possible to the Board of Agriculture so that the officers there, in whom, I am sure, we all have the greatest confidence, may be able to deal with it promptly and effectively.

§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Duke of DEVONSHIRE)

In the absence of my noble friend the Lord Privy Seal, the duty of answering the question of the noble Lord opposite has fallen upon me. I have to inform him that there have been slaughtered in all 127 cattle, eight sheep, and forty-two swine in connection with the present outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. The restrictions imposed extend over a district comprising twelve petty sessional divisions in Norfolk and seven in Suffolk, with the boroughs therein. The first information which we received as to the suspected appearance of the disease was from the superintendent of police on 29th January. Instructions as to the isolation of the premises and the observance of the rules applicable to infected places were at once sent off to the police and to the local authorities, and an experienced veterinary surgeon was despatched to the spot. His report went to confirm the suspicion previously entertained, and on 31st January our chief veterinary officer also visited the infected place and declared foot and mouth disease to exist. So far as our inquiries have proceeded we have no reason to believe that any person concerned was guilty of any offence in regard to the failure to give notice of the existence of disease for which proceedings could be taken under the Diseases of Animals Acts. The long immunity from the disease which Norfolk and Suffolk have enjoyed and the fact that in several 1356 respects it resembles other animal diseases would alike tend to allay suspicion as to the real character of the outbreak.