§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has yet been able to trace the origin of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the town of Mullingar; will he say whether all the cases reported so far in county Westmeath have been confined to that town or its immediate vicinity; and whether, in view of the fact that the outbreak there is due to some local cause of infection, he will draw the cordon round the town in as narrow a compass as possible and remove the restrictions now imposed on farmers in the unaffected districts of the county?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe origin of the outbreak has not yet been traced. The 465W disease so far has appeared only on premises in Mullingar or within a short distance of that town. It would, however, be premature as yet to conclude that the incidence of the disease is entirely local.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), in connection with the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Mullingar, county Westmeath, whether veterinary inspectros employed by his Department, who are engaged dealing with diseased animals, are sent to examine other herds of cattle in country districts hitherto free from disease; and, if so, will he at once issue an Order to prevent that practice with a view to prevent the spreading of infection?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe answer to this question is in the negative. The staff of veterinary inspectors who inspect animals not affected is distinct from the staff which deals with diseased animals.
§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has received a resolution unanimously passed by the Westmeath County Council, asking him to hold a, public inquiry into the cause of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Mullingar, in that county; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in connection therewith?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The lion. Member is referred to the reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for North Westmeath on 29th instant on points similar to those mentioned in the resolution. The Department do not propose to hold the inquiry suggested.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will state the total value of the animals slaughtered, and under order for slaughter, to the present date in Ireland in connection with this year's outbreak of loot-and-mouth disease; how much of that is payable out of the rates; how much out of the Cattle Diseases Fund; whether the latter, or any part of it, is to be subsequently recovered from the rates; and, if so, in what manner?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe amount of compensation paid, or due, m respect of animals slaughtered or to be slaughtered in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Ireland is £26,027. The com-466W pensation paid represents the value of the animals. The Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, provides that such compensation shall be paid from the Cattle Pleuro Pneumonia Account which is supplied by moneys voted by Parliament, and in the event of those moneys proving insufficient the General Cattle Diseases Fund, which is replenished when necessary by uniform assessments of a farthing in the pound on the net annual value of the property throughout Ireland, can be drawn upon. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course for the purpose of meeting the special expenditure on account of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Tie-land), whether, seeing that the county Wexford has shown a clean bill of health with reference to foot-and-mouth disease, he can say when the port of Wexford will be opened for the shipment of cattle?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe port of Wexford is at present open for the shipment of animals intended for slaughter. Under the Orders of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries cattle for store purposes landed in Great Britain must undergo a fourteen days' quarantine at the place of landing. Wexford has not yet been included by the Board among those ports from which store cattle can be shipped on the above condition.