§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the i number of cattle shipped from Ireland for slaughter at the following places since the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, namely, Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol; if the cattle so slaughtered were subjected to examination by a veterinary surgeon after slaughter; and, if so, what was the result of the post-mortem examination, showing the number of cattle slaughtered at Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol, respectively, and the number of cattle found affected with tuberculosis at Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe number of Irish cattle landed for slaughter at the ports named in the question during the period from the 8th July to the 5th November inclusive was as follows: At Deptford, 4,662; at Birkenhead, 77,735; and at Bristol (Avonmouth), 1,663. All these animals were subjected to a post-mortem veterinary examination with a view to ascertain whether they showed symptoms of any disease scheduled under the Diseases of Animals Acts. Tuberculosis is not one of the scheduled diseases, and I regret that I am therefore unable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. HOLTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that there are many farmers in the Chollerton district of Northumberland who have suffered loss through the prohibition of the movement of cattle and sheep from their farms although there has been no outbreak of disease on their farms; and whether, seeing that this prohibition of movement has been instituted for the benefit of agriculture in general and not for these particular farmers, he can see his way to arrange to give them some compensation at the expense of the general body of farmers?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that many farmers in the Chollerton district of Northumberland have suffered severely by reason of the restrictions necessarily imposed with the object of preventing the further spread of disease. The disease 1479W proved to be peculiarly difficult to stamp out in that district, and the outbreaks extended over the period from 1st July to 8th October; consequently the prohibition of the movement of animals had to be stringently maintained. All farmers within the scheduled area, whether or not they had had outbreaks of disease on their premises, had to be placed under restrictions, but in several hard cases which were brought to my notice I directed an inspector of the Board to pay special visits to the farms concerned, and in some instances he was able to make recommendations by which the hardship could be mitigated without risk. All complaints have been most sympathetically considered by the Board, and everything possible has been done to afford relief. I regret that I see no means by which the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the last part of the question could be carried into effect.
Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can give any further information as to the possibility of opening the Salford Cattle Market for the importation of Irish cattle?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI regret that I cannot as yet say anything definite as to the possibility of allowing Irish cattle to be moved to inland markets after inspection and detention at the landing place, but our requirements will be relaxed at the earliest possible moment consistent with safety.
§ Captain MURRAYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the event of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland instituting a belt of buffer counties round the infected areas in Ireland, he would be prepared, in the case of store cattle imported into Scotland from areas outside the belt, to dispense with the fourteen days' quarantine at the port of debarkation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI shall, of course, give the fullest consideration to any proposals which may be made to me by my right hon. Friend in the direction suggested. But I am afraid that their adoption would be attended with considerable practical difficulty, especially as regards the separation1480W of the two classes of animals during transit and at the landing places on this side.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is now in I a position to remove the quarantine period of fourteen days as applied to Irish cattle shipped from the non-affected areas in Ireland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. I regret that I do not see my way at present to reduce the detention period.