§ Mr. OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the West Riding of Yorkshire is traceable to the importation of any hay, straw, or other cattle foods?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYIt is impossible to say at present.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he is prepared to state the extent to which Argentina is free from foot-and-mouth disease; whether any recent representations have been made to the Board by the Argentine Government regarding their desire to be allowed to export live cattle to this country; and whether, in the event of such representations being received, they will receive that consideration which one friendly nation is entitled to expect to receive at the hands of another friendly country?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYWe have had no information since the middle of last month as to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina. At that time it appeared to be confined to the provinces of Entre Rios, Corrientes, and the northern parts of Santa Fe, and the territories of Chaco and Formosa. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative, and in the affirmative to the last part.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the Resolution passed at the last meeting of the Court of Common Council of the Corporation of London, urging that our ports should be reopened for the importation of live stock from Argentina under proper regulations for the exclusion of disease; whether he has received similar representations from meat traders and other associations; whether he is aware that the continued refusal of the Board to readmit cattle from Argentina and other countries is having the effect of strengthening the monopoly held by the American Beef Trust over the meat trade of this country; and if he is prepared to give 2696W favourable consideration to any representations placed before him on this subject?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe replies to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative, in the negative to the third, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the Board will give full consideration to any representation that may be made to them on this subject.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board has yet any knowledge or suspicion as to the origin of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Yorkshire; and whether, and in what way, investigation into this matter is still being pursued?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board have not as yet any knowledge or suspicion as to the origin of the outbreak. Their inspectors are engaged upon a close examination of all the facts of the case, and are investigating the various suggestions which have been made.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any animals upon the farm adjacent to North Close Farm other than those grazing in the same field as the stock found to be affected with foot-and-mouth disease at the time of its detection have been slaughtered; and, if not, whether the Board will, in order to guard against the spread of the disease from the source of infection, consider the desirability of slaughtering forthwith all animals upon such adjacent farm as have at any time been in the same field, yard, or shed, or otherwise in actual or possible contact with this diseased animal?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. All the animals which have recently been in contact with the diseased animal have been slaughtered. The Board do not consider it necessary or desirable to slaughter any others.