§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Agriculture how long foot-and-mouth disease takes to develop in pigs and cattle coming in contact with affected animals; why it has taken since the 24th ultimo for the veterinary staff at Holyhead to diagnose the case of 30 pigs detained there; and whether he will guarantee in future that this system of holding up livestock from Ireland will be discontinued, having regard to the fact that Ireland has been declared immune from the disease, and that such delays can only result in increasing the price of meat to the working classes of Great Britain?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe period of incubation of foot-and-mouth disease is subject to many variations, and consideration must be given to the circumstances of individual cases. The consignment of pigs in question was subjected to a prolonged detention in consequence of the fact that after the animals had been released from a first period of detention, which had been rendered advisable on account of the presence of symptoms similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease in a number of pigs, fresh symptoms appeared in other pigs in the same consignment which it was very desirable to watch. The Ministry must continue to take every reasonable step to prevent the spread of infection. I am not prepared at present to give any guarantee of the nature referred to in the latter part of the question.
§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the system by which cattle were allowed to be brought from King's Lynn market to the Brighton abattoir where one of them was found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease is likely to spread disease, and that until this incursion of foreign cattle the County of Sussex was entirely free from disease, he will consider the desirability of prohibiting the transfer of cattle from a scheduled to an unscheduled area, even though for slaughter only, seeing that the Brighton abattoir is used and frequented by Sussex 1526W farmers, their servants, and horses in taking their livestock there for slaughter and must become possible carriers of the disease?
Sir A. BOSCAWENDiscretionary powers were given to local authorities to authorise the movement of fat cattle for slaughter from one scheduled district to another in order not to interfere unduly with the normal food supply. It was not the intention of the Ministry that cattle should be moved through so long a distance as that in question, and the matter has been brought to the attention of the local authority. I understand that the movement of cattle from King's Lynn to Brighton abattoir was due to a strike among slaughtermen in the Metropolitan Cattle Market. No infection has been disseminated from the abattoir in question.
§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the veterinary inspectors of the English Board of Agriculture at the port of Holyhead on the 24th February held up 30 Irish pigs, some of which were suspected of foot-and-mouth disease; that after consultation and inspection with the veterinary officers of the Irish Department, no disease was found to exist and the animals were actually loaded in trucks at Holyhead for consignment to Sheffield; that on a further instruction from the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture the animals were then taken back to the place of detention, where they have since been detained, although no disease has been confirmed; whether he can state who was responsible for this action; and whether the owner of the pigs will be compensated for the loss sustained due to depreciation in value caused by the delay?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe reply to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. On the Ministry's instruction the pigs in question were detained under observation for a second period because a further number of them showed fresh symptoms of disease. Owners are not entitled to any compensation in the circumstances in question.