§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the majority of farmers in the country at the present time are unable to afford to pay for the regular services of veterinary surgeons to inspect their livestock, with the result that a great deal of waste is caused through diseases becoming so established that they cannot be cured; and whether he will take steps at an early stage to arrange for a regular inspection of all essential livestock in this country?
Mr. HudsonI am not prepared to accept the implications contained in the first part of the Question. As regards the latter part, I indicated in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 5th February that consultations are taking place on the subject of the control of diseases of dairy stock which account for the greater part of the economic losses caused by diseases of farm livestock.