§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis payment was made to slaughterers in the foot-and-mouth campaign in Rothbury last summer; and to what extent payment was made for the killing of more animals than were actually killed.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether a veterinary officer is meant to be present when slaughtering is being carried out during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. PeartAt least one veterinary officer is present on the farm when slaughtering is carried out.
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§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Brewis has again been requested to isolate himself, he will make a financial payment of compensation to him and guarantee the payment of all his expenses relevant to his medical treatment.
§ Mr. PeartMy Veterinary Service considers on the available evidence that Mr. Brewis causes no risk to animals and have not requested him to isolate himself. Much as I sympathise with Mr. Brewis I regret that I cannot see any case for compensation to be paid by me.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what were the names of the men who carried out slaughtering on Mr. Hyslop's farm, Dancing Hall, Callaly, Whittingham, during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last summer; what qualifications they had; and whether it was intended that a veterinary officer should have been present during the period of slaughtering;
(2) what were the names of the men who carried out slaughtering on Mr. Brown's farm, Wandylaw, Chathill, Northumberland, during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last summer; what qualifications they had; and whether it was intended that a veterinary officer should have been present during the period of slaughtering;
(3) what were the names of the men who carried out slaughtering on Lord Ravensworth's farm near Whittingham during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last summer; what qualifications they had; whether it was intended that a veterinary officer should have been present during the period of slaughtering; and whether they were organised to kill the Highland cattle with a rifle and not a humane killer.
§ Mr. PeartI do not propose to give the names of individuals employed by the Ministry during the Northumberland epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. I understand that the men engaged on the slaughter of the animals were all licensed slaughtermen. As I have already explained a Veterinary Officer was present during the slaughter of animals.
On Lord Ravensworth's farm near Whittingham a batch of Highland cattle 80W which had been living wild were shot by an expert marksman and firearms specialist using an automatic pistol and a batch of Galloways, which had been living under similar conditions, by the same man with a rifle. This was done to avoid the possibility of injury to the slaughter-men and their assistants, and in order to ensure that the animals did not break away on to the open hill. One Galloway which broke away during round-up was shot by a police marksman who had received his training in the armed forces.