HC Deb 21 May 1912 vol 38 c1894W
Mr. CHARLES BATHURST

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the increase in Great Britain in recent years of swine fever, anthrax, and foot-and-mouth disease, the lack of exact scientific knowledge as to the origin, perpetuation, and transmission of these diseases, and the consequent difficulty, if not impossibility, of effective and economic administration of the Contagious Diseases of Animals Acts, he will seek to obtain from the Treasury a substantial sum of public money in order to prosecute much-needed research into the above diseases?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Scientific investigations of anthrax and swine fever are at present being actively conducted, and the Scientific Commission for the study of foot-and-mouth disease in India will leave England shortly. If further funds are required for this work I shall ask the Treasury to give the Board the necessary assistance.