§ 59. Mr. Peartasked the Minister of Agriculture what recommendations his Department has received from international bodies concerning the control of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe most recent recommendations, which were made at a meeting in Paris in May (and of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member) were directed to countries which control foot-and-mouth disease by means of 53W vaccination or slaughter combined with vaccination, and were designed to improve the effectiveness of these methods. They do not apply to this country. Earlier recommendations have been in favour of a slaughter policy in countries where the disease is not endemic, and have advocated compulsory notification of the disease and various control measures all of which are already in operation in this country.
§ 61. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a further statement on the success of measures taken to deal with foot-and-mouth disease in the South-West of Scotland; and if he will state the number of cattle, sheep and pigs, respectively, slaughtered in each of the three counties since the recent outbreak of the disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe only part of South-West Scotland in which foot-and-mouth disease is now active is the Dumfries infected area, which includes a small part of Kirkudbright and Cumberland. There have been 42 outbreaks of disease in this area since 2nd June, and 46 in the whole of South-West Scotland, including the Dumfries area, since 13th May. My veterinary officers are confident that the situation in this area is under control though owing to delay in reporting existence of disease in one or two cases some further outbreaks must be expected.
Since the present series of outbreaks began in South-West Scotland on 13th May, 3,272 cattle, 5,166 sheep and 1,027 pigs have been slaughtered in Dumfriesshire; 302 cattle, 201 sheep and 177 pigs in Kirkcudbrightshire; and 494 cattle, 562 sheep and 32 pigs in Wigtownshire.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) if he is satisfied that veterinary officers, and their subordinates, who are engaged in the slaughter policy concerned with foot-and-moth disease, and who can visit any farm at any time, and without notice, subject themselves and their vehicles to thorough disinfection and thus prevent any risk of spreading infection;
(2) whether he will ensure that every person authorised by his Department to inspect farms, in areas where foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks have taken place, should bear some official pass so 54W that occupiers of holdings may have some assurance that unauthorised persons do not have access to herds and other animals showing no symptoms of disease;
(3) what precautions are taken when slaughterers are employed by a contractor to kill non-contact animals on a farm infected by foot-and-mouth disease to ensure that after the work is completed they do not carry infection elsewhere.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order provides that any person (including a veterinary officer) entering any place in which a diseased or suspected animal is or has been recently kept, shall wear suitable overall clothing and boots which are capable of being disinfected, and shall, before leaving the place, thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the clothing and boots, and also his hands. This rule is scrupulously observed by my inspectors and they or the police supervise the disinfection of other persons, including slaughtermen who are brought onto farms infected with foot-and-mouth disease to slaughter any animals. The tools and tackle of slaughtermen are also disinfected. When visiting other farms in connection with foot-and-mouth disease duties, my inspectors wear protective clothing which is thoroughly disinfected both before going on to the farm and on leaving. As a further precaution, inspectors with duties on an infected place do not visit other farms, save in exceptional circumstances.
The only vehicles allowed to go to an infected place are those which are essential in connection with slaughtering, and these are not allowed to leave until they have been disinfected under the supervision of a veterinary officer.
All officers of my Department who inspect farms in connection with foot-and-mouth disease carry a certificate authorising them to inspect animals and poultry. Visits by officers for purposes other than the control of animal diseases are reduced to a minimum in infected areas.