§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that only three outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in the counties of Fermanagh, Kildare, and Westmeath during the month of October, and that all the rest of Ireland has been declared free from disease; whether he is aware that about half a million of animals have been imported into Great Britain without any sympton of disease; and whether, under those circumstances, he will favourably consider the resumption of normal transit conditions, pius inspection, from the uninfected areas of Ireland to various markets and places in Great Britain.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that during the past month no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Ireland outside the three counties mentioned by the hon. Member, but in my judgment it cannot as yet be safely assumed that the rest of the country is free from disease, and I know of no declaration which has been issued to that effect. I am however watching the position very closely, with a view to the modification of our existing requirements at the earliest possible moment consistent with safety. The fact that no case of the disease has been discovered in the large number of animals which have been imported either for slaughter or detention is certainly a factor in the matter which must be borne in mind.