§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that on Monday last the cattle diseases committee of the Northumberland County Council issued regulations prohibiting the movement into that county of 544W all animals coming from Ireland or which had been in Ireland since the beginning of September; whether the Board proposed to override such regulations; and whether it is open to county councils to neutralise the effect of the Board's recent order in relation to Irish store cattle by the issue of such regulations?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have received a copy of the regulations made by the Northumberland County Council to which the hon. Member refers. As he is aware, a local authority is empowered to regulate the movement of animals into their district with the view of preventing the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease into their district, and at present I see no reason to interfere with their discretion in this respect. The necessary saving Clause for this purpose was inserted in Article 4 of the Animals (Landing from Ireland) Amendment Order of 1912 (No. 12).