HC Deb 09 June 1913 vol 53 cc1276-7W
Colonel LOCKWOOD

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if an official of the Board of Agriculture informed Mr. Powell, of Epping, when he asked for the services of an inspector to investigate the sudden mortality amongst his lambs, that they were understaffed and could not send an inspector down; whether there has been an inquiry made into this abnormal mortality after lamb docking at Epping; and, if so, what was the result of that inquiry?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

On 28th April the Board received a letter from Mr. Powell, stating that there had been serious mortality among his lambs and asking for an immediate investigation by an officer of the Board. The Board replied immediately by telegram, suggesting that he should submit to them a report from a local veterinary surgeon and also send the carcase of one of the dead lambs to the Board's laboratory. Mr. Powell did what was suggested, and subsequently, on 6th May, he called at the offices of the Board and had an interview with Sir Stewart Stockman, the chief veterinary officer, who told him that as a result of his examination and inquiries he was satisfied that the lambs had died from quarter-ill, probably contracted through their being placed immediately after docking in an infected stable. Sir Stewart Stockman advised him as to the steps which he should take to prevent further loss from the same cause, and also explained to him that the Board had not a sufficient veterinary staff to enable them to send a man at a moment's notice to investigate on the spot any case of disease reported to them by stock owners. If it were otherwise, I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me that the local veterinary practitioners would have serious cause for complaint. On 29th May another case of the disease occurred, and to relieve the anxiety of farmers in the district the Board sent one of their veterinary officers to investigate it and his report proves conclusively that Sir Stewart Stockman's opinion, both as to the nature of the disease and its causes, was correct.