§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any steps are being taken by the Army Council, by the compulsory destruction of hay and straw used for packing military stores or equipment imported from abroad, to prevent the outbreak or spread of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. TENNANTI understand that the Foot-and-Mouth Committee, of which the hon. Member was a member, went exhaustively into the question of packing materials as a means of carrying disease and came to the conclusion that it was not practicable to destroy all packing materials used without grave interference with trade. No large importations of military stores and equipment are being made from abroad, and, in so far as anything may come from the United States or Canada, I would remind the hon. Gentleman that those countries are absolutely free from foot-and-mouth disease.