HC Deb 21 November 1912 vol 44 cc524-5W
Captain MURRAY

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make any statement regarding the importation of Irish store cattle into the ports of Glasgow, Dundee, and Ayr?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The negotiations as regards the provision of accommodation for the landing of Irish store cattle at each of the three ports named are proceeding satisfactorily. An Order will be issued to-day which will enable such cattle to be landed at Glasgow subject to the prescribed period of detention, which is at present fourteen days, but will be reduced to four days as from the 27th instant, if no material change in the position occurs. I hope that the arrangements which are now being made at Dundee and Ayr will be completed next week.

Mr. CRUMLEY

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) if he will now open the markets of Great Britain for the sale, under normal conditions, of Irish pigs for slaughtering purposes, as there has been no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland for a considerable time; and (2) whether, having regard to the almost complete disappearance of foot-and-mouth disease from Ireland, he can now make an Order opening the markets of Great Britain to Irish store cattle; or, if not, will he reduce the period of quarantine from fourteen to four days?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me, in reply to this and the next question which also stands in his name, to refer him to the statement which I made yesterday with regard to the modification of the existing restrictions which I propose to make as from the 27th instant, if no material change in the position occurs in the meantime.

Mr. LARDNER

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the names and addresses of the twenty-four temporary veterinary inspectors employed in connection with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland; and the names and addresses of the forty-two local veterinary inspectors who were engaged from time to time in these outbreaks?

Mr. RUSSELL

I can see no public object to be served by the publication of such a list as the hon. Member asks for. But if he desires it, I shall be glad to have the list made out for his own information.