Major D. DAVIESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been traced to infection from packing material imported from abroad; and if he will consider the question of prohibiting the importation of straw and hay in any form from countries where cattle plague and foot-and-mouth disease are known to exist?
Sir A. BOSCAWENProlonged inquiry has failed to establish any relation between imported packing material and the numerous invasions of foot-and-mouth disease which have occurred. The importation1994W of hay and straw from all European countries, except Norway, is already prohibited with certain exceptions, which include hay and straw actually used for packing merchandise. The Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease in its Report dated May, 1912, stated that they recognised that packing straw constituted a source of danger, but that, in view of the serious dislocation of general trade which such action would entail, they were not prepared to advise its prohibition until there was further evidence against it. In the absence of any evidence connecting an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease with packing materials, the Ministry is not prepared to consider the prohibition of the importation of hay and straw in every form.