Mr. NEWDEGATEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether from districts in Ireland live hares have been imported to the Parish of Great Bowden, near Market Harborough, which is now also infected by foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he will, for the present, stop any importation of live hares into this country from Ireland in order to prevent possible infection?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANInquiries have been made, but no information as to the arrival at Great Bowden of hares imported from Ireland can be obtained. I do not think that anything would be gained by the prohibition of the importation of live hares from Ireland. The number imported must be very small and the risk of the introduction of disease through their agency must, as matters now stand in Ireland, be infinitesimal.
§ Sir RANDOLF BAKERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, while the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Shepton Mallet, in Somerset, was known on Tuesday, 23rd July, and the animals infected were slaughtered on 24th July, notification was only given of the restrictive Order to a few farmers on 25th July, and the majority of farmers were not informed of the Order till 26th July; and, if so, whether he will make arrangements to hasten the process of notification?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA telegram reporting the suspected existence of foot-and-mouth disease near Shepton Mallet was received by the Board on the 23rd July. One of the Board's veterinary inspectors was immediately instructed to visit the premises, but after considering the reports received on the subject, the Board's chief inspector considered it desirable that he should visit the premises and inspect the animals personally. He did so on the morning of the 24th July, and a telegram was received form him soon after 1 p.m. confirming the existence of the disease. An Order, which had been prepared in advance, prohibiting the movement of animals and the holding of markets in an area surrounding the infected place was at once made, 2279W and telegrams announcing the fact were sent at 3.15 p.m. to the local authorities, the chief constables, the superintendent of police, and the railway companies concerned. Copies of the Order were sent later in the day. I am informed by the clerk to the Somerset County Council that the Board's telegram was received after office hours, but that it was forwarded to the chief constable on the evening of the 24th, who sent a copy at once to all police superintendents, and that the Order was printed on the 25th instant, and that prints and placards were posted to the police and others on the same evening.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can say how soon he will be able, consistently with public safety, to relax the restrictions affecting the removal of dairy cattle in the Leeds district?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAnimals can now be moved freely both into and within a very considerable portion of the West Riding Scheduled Area, including almost the whole of the city of Leeds. I hope, if all goes well, further to modify the restrictions early next week. If the hon. Member has any particular case of difficulty in mind, perhaps he would kindly communicate with me respecting it.
§ Mr. STANIERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can give any information regarding the three outbreaks in Cheshire of foot-and-mouth disease; and if the Board have any knowledge of how the disease was brought into the district?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere have now been five outbreaks in the Cheshire area, all on farms immediately adjoining each other. Every possible clue to the cause of the original outbreak has been, and is being, followed up, but so far no satisfactory theory has been established.
§ Mr. STANIERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can give the particulars of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Shrewsbury market on Tuesday, and if he can trace the origin?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to refer him to the full statement which I made on this subject yesterday.
§ Mr. DELANYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware 2280W that the embargo against the importation of hay into this country from Ireland is causing inconvenience and loss to shippers and farmers alike in Ireland; and, seeing that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confined to a small area in the parish of Swords, county Dublin, and is now virtually at an end, will he take steps to have those restrictions removed immediately?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to refer him to my previous replies on this subject. For the reasons therein given it is not possible for me to allow the importation of hay into Great Britain from Ireland to be resumed until it is clear that foot-and-mouth disease has been completely stamped out.
§ Mr. DELANYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can now see his way to remove the restrictions prohibiting the importation of Irish cattle into this country, seeing that the late outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, which has been confined to a small area in the parish of Swords, county Dublin, is now stamped out?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid, if I may judge from experience in Great Britain, that it is too soon to assume that foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland has been absolutely stamped out and that there is no danger whatever of its recrudescence. In these circumstances, I cannot withdraw any of the restrictions to which the hon. Member refers, but I shall, of course, keep the position steadily in view.
§ Captain CLIVEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state what compensation is being given for stock slaughtered in connection with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; what is the total number of cattle slaughtered to date; what is their estimated value; how much has been paid in compensation; and on what basis that compensation is calculated?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe payment of compensation for animals slaughtered in connection with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease is governed by Section 15 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, which provides that where the animal was affected with the disease the compensation is to be the value of the animal immediately before it became affected, and in every other case its value immediately before it was slaughtered. It is only 2281W possible for me to give the other information asked for in the question so far as compensation has actually been paid. Up to yesterday a sum of £19,371 had been paid for compensation in respect of 1,010 cattle, 2,017 sheep, 107 swine and a goat.
§ Captain CLIVEasked the President of of the Board of Agriculture whether any further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred; and whether he has been able to trace the cause of the recent outbreaks in Somersetshire and Cheshire?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.