§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the conditions under which cattle shipped from Ireland to the Foreign Animals' Wharf at Wallasey, Birkenhead, are being detained under his Order; if he is aware that the detention Order is causing serious loss to the Irish cattle trade; and if he proposes to remove or modify the existing restrictions?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAccording to my information the arrangements made for the detention of Irish cattle at Birkenhead are satisfactory, but if any specific complaints have been made to the hon. Baronet, and he will communicate with me, I will have them investigated. I have no reason to believe that there is any foundation for the statement made in the second part of the question; on the contrary, the number of Irish cattle imported into Great Britain since the Order came into operation is approximately double the number imported in the corresponding period last year, the condition of the animals is greatly improved by their twelve hours' rest at the landing-places, and very good prices are paid for them. I do not at present propose to make any alteration in the conditions prescribed by the Order.
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Mr. HAMILTON BENNasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of live cattle in North America and the probable stoppage of all shipments from that quarter, he will now remove the embargo against shipments from South American ports of live cattle for slaughter in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer is in the negative. The risk of introducing foot-and-mouth disease and other diseases of animals into this country is of paramount importance and outweighs by far any advantage that would be gained.