§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture for what length of time after the latest case of foot-and- 541W mouth disease in a district in England the movement of animals there is restricted; and, that time having elapsed since the latest case in Westmeath, why the Board refuse to open British ports for Irish cattle unless the restrictions are continued in Westmeath longer than would be deemed necessary in England?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe length of time during which the movement of animals is restricted in the neighbourhood of a place infected with foot-and-mouth disease depends upon the circumstances of each case, and no general rule can be laid down. In view of the exceptional circumstances of the outbreaks at Mullingar, it was considered advisable to postpone for the present the admission of store stock into Great Britain from Westmeath.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked whether there are any restrictions placed on the landing at the ports in the United Kingdom of goods packed in hay and straw coming from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is known to exist; and, if so, to what countries do these restrictions apply?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer is in the negative. Perhaps I may mention that the possibility of infection being introduced by means of foreign hay or straw used for packing merchandise was carefully considered by the Departmental Committee on foot-and-mouth disease which reported last year; the Committee, while expressing the opinion that such packing material is a possible source of danger, decided unanimously that they could not on the evidence recommend its prohibition in view of the serious dislocation of trade which would be involved.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that there has been no recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in any part of Ireland, he will remove the restrictions on the landing at the ports in England, Scotland, and Wales of hay and straw exported from Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not at present prepared to make any statement, but if hon. Members will repeat their questions in a fortnight's time, I hope then to be in a position to announce when a relaxation of the existing restrictions upon the importation of Irish hay and straw into Great Britain can take effect.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether 542W the suspicion of an unknown centre of disease having existed in county Meath is now proved to be without foundation, owing to the immunity from infection enjoyed by the animals which were in contact with the suspected cases and which have since been shipped to Dundee and another British port; will he now allow animals from county Meath, where there has not been a confirmed case for four months, to-be landed in Great Britain on the same conditions as fat and store cattle are received from unscheduled counties in Ireland; and, if not, will he state his reasons for not doing so?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThis question, in so far as it relates to the existence of disease in Ireland, should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President. Stock from county Meath may now be landed in Great Britain under the same conditions as stock from the other unscheduled districts in Ireland.
§ Mr. P. WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, if he perseveres in his intention of enforcing a period of detention upon animals landed from Ireland, he will leave it optional with the owners to feed or not to feed them as they in their judgment may consider the necessities of the animals require in each particular case; what form of food it is proposed to supply during summer and autumn months when beasts coming off rich fresh pastures would not eat what must necessarily be hay nearly 12 months old; and whether, before formulating rules for the proper feeding of animals under the various conditions which they may be landed, he will confer with and take into account the views of experienced stock-owners, both in Great Britain and Ireland, as men more likely to give practical advice than professional gentlemen who have no experience of the tending of cattle?
§ Mr. P. WHITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether the proposed detention of animals from Ireland at the port of debarkation for a period of 12 hours represents the maximum limit of time for animals that may have travelled a long distance by rail before being shipped, and may have a long journey to travel by rail after being landed to the farm of destination; if so, what will be the minimum period of detention; whether he is aware that animals from county Meath and district, passing through the ports of Dublin and Drogheda with only a 543W few hours' journey by rail and sea, will, in the opinion of experienced owners, require no feeding on being landed before being taken to an adjacent market; whether he will consider the advisability of detaining animals from such places to a time barely necessary to carry out the veterinary inspection while that operation continues to be in force under the rules of his department; and (2) whether the owners of animals landed in this country from Ireland and detained under his proposed rules will, in the event of enforced feeding of the animals being imposed on them have any guarantee that the fodder will be of the right description; and, if not, will they have any redress, and whether he proposes to appoint any inspectors to see if owners are compelled to purchase fodder that it is of the kind they approve, and not of a worthless quality?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe proposed Order will provide for the inspection of all Irish stock at the landing places in Great Britain by veterinary officers of the Board. For this purpose, and in order that they may be rested, fed, and watered before proceeding to their destinations, all animals, without differentiation of any kind, will have to spend twelve hours at the landing place. I have no reason to suppose that any difficulty will arise in regard to the provision of suitable food, but the local authority will be charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of the Order and of safeguarding the animals from neglect, and a veterinary inspector of the Board will always be on I the spot.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether an arrangement has been arrived at under which imports of hay may shortly be resumed from Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not at present prepared to make any statement, but if hon. Members will repeat their questions in a fortnight's time, I hope then to be in a position to announce when a relaxation of the existing restrictions upon the importation of Irish hay and straw into Great Britain can take effect.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is in a position to announce any modification of his proposal to permanently 544W detain Irish cattle at landing ports for a minimum period of twelve hours?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I have given to questions addressed to me on this subject by the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division of Dublin yesterday and by the hon. Member for North Meath to-day.