§ VISCOUNT CHAPLIN had given notice of his intention to ask the Minister of Agriculture the following Questions—
- 1. What was the date when foot-and-mouth disease was first discovered in England after the Armistice;
- 2. How many different counties and which had been declared infected before it was declared free again;
- 3. What was the date of that announcement;
- 4. How many counties since that announcement and which have been declared infected again; what is the method adopted for the extinction of foot-and-mouth disease at present. Are the infected animals slaughtered together with those that have come in contact with them;
- 5. If so, how many cattle and sheep have been so slaughtered and compensation for them been paid;
- 6. What has been the total cost to the country since the first outbreak of the disease since the Armistice;
- 7. Who is at present the head of the Animals Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, and how long has he filled that position.
§ The noble Viscount said: I now have to ask several Questions with regard to foot-and-mouth disease. The first is, What was the date when foot-and-mouth disease was first discovered in England after the Armistice?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMJanuary 9, 1919.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINHow many different counties had been declared infected before being declared free again?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMTwenty-four.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINWhat was the date of that announcement?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMMarch 27, 1920.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINHow many counties since that announcement have been declared infected again?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMNine.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINWhat is the method adopted for the extinction of foot and-mouth disease at present?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMWith regard to that, I had better refer the noble 879 Viscount, as it is a somewhat lengthy description, to the Report which has just been published by the Ministry of the proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Acts. There is a full account there covering several pages, which I presume the noble Viscount would not wish me to read.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINThat would be quite satisfactory to me. Are the infected animals slaughtered together with those that have come in contact with them?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMThe rule at present is to slaughter all infected animals and those actually in contact with them. Exceptions to this rule would only be considered in the case of very valuable pedigree animals, and then only if the conditions of the premises and surroundings were such that isolation could be adopted without serious risk.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINHow many cattle and sheep have been so slaughtered and compensation for them paid, and what is the amount of the compensation so paid?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMIn the two years 3,788 cattle; 9,586 sheep; 1,654 swine; and 13 goats. The total compensation paid, after deducting the salvage obtained for carcases, is £159,000.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINWhat has been the total cost to the country since the first outbreak of the disease since the Armistice?
§ LORD LEE OF FAREHAMThat is the figure I gave.
§ VISCOUNT CHAPLINI am very much obliged to the noble Lord. I think he has given me all the information I desire without taking up the time of the House unduly.