§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will now consider the advisability of permitting livestock for immediate slaughter to be sent into Dublin by rail from parts of the country outside the prescribed area?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is hoped that it may soon be possible to arrange for such movement if no further cases of foot-and-mouth disease should occur.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if the stock owners or shippers whose livestock were held up in transit when the first outbreak of alleged foot-and-mouth disease occurred will be compensated for the loss they were put to through no fault or neglect on their part; and, if so, how the amount of such compensation will be assessed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer is in the negative. The Department regret the inconvenience and loss resulting from the restrictions imposed in consequence of foot-and-mouth disease; but there is no power to pay compensation in such circumstances.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether any laboratory research was made in connection with the recent outbreak of disease among cattle at Swords, in Ireland; whether he is aware that a large section of experts are of the opinion that the distemper which broke out amongst the cattle at that place was not what is known as foot-and-mouth disease; and that many of the best known symptoms of that disease were absent in each of the alleged cases; and whether, if no such research has as yet been made, he will call to his assistance the best analytical advice available if another case occurs?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe diagnosis of the cases of foot-and-mouth disease at Swords, county Dublin, was made by the Department's chief veterinary inspector, who has had a very large experience in that disease, both in Great Britain and Ireland. The Department are not aware that doubt has been cast by anyone upon that diagnosis. The Department are advised that it is not requisite that the whole train of recognised symptoms should be presented before a reliable judgment can be formed, and that it is not necessary to follow the course suggested in the latter part of the question to establish the nature of the disease. The inadvisability of carrying out laboratory experiments in this disease in the United Kingdom is pointed out in the recent Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
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§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that under the Diseases Animals Act, 1894, the obligation resting on local authorities to keep an appointed veterinary inspector does not apply to Ireland; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent danger to the health of our herds being caused by the Diseases Act being administered in Ireland by unskilled persons?
§ Mr. BIRRELLEvery inspector appointed by a local authority in Ireland under the Diseases of Animals Acts is required to have the qualifications of a veterinary surgeon except in cases where it is impossible to procure or where for sufficient cause it is undesirable to appoint a person so qualified. There are at present 119 inspectors to the local authorities, 103 of these are fully qualified veterinary surgeons, and three others are registered practitioners under the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1881. As vacancies occur in the local authorities' staff the small number still remaining of non-professional local inspectors are being replaced by inspectors possessing the full professional qualifications. The administration of the Diseases of Animals Acts in Ireland is under the control of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, and, in addition to the inspection staff of the local authorities above described, the Department have themselves in constant employment on this duty in the various counties and ports a large staff of veterinary officers, all of whom are members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
§ Mr. STANIERasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) when foot-and-mouth disease broke out in Swords, near Dublin; what radius was declared infected; has this radius been in any way altered; and is it being rigidly enforced?
§ Mr. BIRRELLFoot-and-mouth disease was found to exist at Swords, county Dublin, on 30th June. An Order was at once issued prohibiting movement of animals into, out of, or within a very wide scheduled district, comprising the county borough and the county of Dublin, and the counties of Meath, Kildare and Wick-low. On 14th July the Department, as the result of investigation, being satisfied that there was no danger from foot-and-mouth disease in so wide an area, reduced this district to one comprising the county borough and county of Dublin and a large 2071W portion of county Meath, having a radius on the average of about seventeen miles. No movements of animals can take place either into, out of, or within this district except with a licence of an inspector of the Department. The restrictions are being rigidly enforced.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he proposes to accede to the request of the Lord Mayor of Dublin to reduce the radius around outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland to seven miles, or less than half what is regarded as essential for safety in Great Britain?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA much larger area than would be covered by a fifteen-mile radius was in the first instance declared by the Department when the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred at Swords, county Dublin. This area was on the 18th July reduced to one having a radius of about seventeen miles on the average. As soon as the Department consider that such a course can be taken with entire safety, and not until then, they propose to contract further the limits of the scheduled district. This is the usual procedure adopted in Great Britain also.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture the nature of the restrictions still prevailing at the ports in consequence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Swords in June, and when it is hoped to remove them?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo cattle, sheep, goats, or swine brought from Ireland can be landed at any port or place in Great Britain unless they are brought from certain specified Irish ports for slaughter at the foreign animals' wharves at Glasgow, Birkenhead, Bristol, and Deptford. The extension of the existing facilities for the landing of stock for slaughter depends upon the success of the measures which have been taken for the suppression of disease in Ireland, and it is not possible for me to make any definite statement at present. As regards the admission of stock otherwise than for slaughter at the foreign animals' wharves, I may say that I am in communication with the Irish Department as to the measures to be adopted for a closer inspection of the animals than has hitherto been possible, and for their being fed and watered prior to shipment.