§ Mr. REESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the opinion held by rural district councils that provision should be made by law for the payment of reasonable compensation to dairy farmers for loss caused by any proceedings or action of any authority acting under the powers of any Acts of Parliament or Orders made thereunder, relating to milk 777W from cows suffering or suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis, and that the refusal of such compensation, besides being in itself a hardship to dairy farmers, tends to operate against the beneficial working of such Acts and Orders and the prompt detection and eradication of tuberculosis in cattle; and whether the Board of Agriculture proposes that such compensation should be awarded from the Imperial Exchequer and not from local rates?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes, the Board are well aware of the views held by rural district councils on this matter. It would, however, be necessary to introduce legislation to give effect to them, and the Board are not at present in a position to do so, as it would not be practically un-controversial.