§ 72. Sir Clive Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is still his policy to release beef in store from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic for processing purposes only; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartAfter I announced on 4th March the lifting of the temporary ban on all imports of meat except mutton and lamb (including their offals) from countries in which foot-and-mouth disease is endemic, the trade organisations were told that meat, other than mutton and lamb (including their offals), would be freely licensed out of cold store. Licences for mutton and lamb (and their offals) imported from these countries are being issued only for processing.
§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that a bone depot situated near Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, was specifically mentioned as a possible source of foot-and-mouth disease infection in Command Paper No. 3560, 30W he will take steps to ensure that all such depots are recorded by the appropriate local authority and that precautions are taken to make them secure against scavenging animals.
§ Mr. PeartThis and a number of other similar problems are now being considered and will be presented in the evidence to be submitted to the Committee of Inquiry.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that he will accept the recommendations of the Northumberland Committee relating to beef imports from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic.
§ Mr. PeartNo. It would be wrong for me to prejudge the Government's decision on a report which has not yet been written.