§ 52. Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will now take emergency powers in order to deal effectively with the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
§ Mr. PeartI have very considerable powers which I am using under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950. In addition we are securing in practice a number of other valuable precautions.
§ 53. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now impose a complete ban on all meat imports from countries known to be sources of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. PeartAs I have said, the origin of the present epidemic has not been established, but the Government are actively considering the question of imports.
§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the serious proportions of the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, he will ban imports of meat from South America.
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§ Mr. PeartThe origin of the present epidemic has not been established but the Government are actively considering the question of imports.
§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how far a shortage of veterinary officers is now delaying prompt action on suspected fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. PeartThere is no shortage of veterinary surgeons and diagnosis and slaughter has been carried out promptly.