§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary whether since the date when the entry of cattle from Ireland into this country was forbidden any evidence whatever has been found of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland?
§ Mr. HENRYThe Department of Agriculture have made and are continuing to make careful investigation in the districts in Ireland from which the cattle found affected in England came but have failed to find any evidence of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. W. SMITHasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England and Ireland, respectively, during the years 1916 to 1920; the number of cattle, sheep, and pigs killed; the cost thereby involved; the administrative expenses of the Diseases of Animals Act; and the number of outbreaks of the disease in Canada during the same period?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in Ireland or Canada during the years 1916 to 1920, inclusive. During that period 176 outbreaks occurred at intervals in England, involving the slaughter of 4,060 cattle, 9,796 sheep, 1,731 pigs and 14 goats. The gross compensation paid in respect of the slaughter of these animals was £221,862, whilst the salvage received amounted to £58,522, making a net cost of £163,340. As regards the administrative expenses incurred by the Ministry in connection with the Diseases of Animals Act, the salaries of the headquarters staff engaged upon duties arising out of the administration of the Act during the five years 1916 to 1920 amounted to approximately £39,000, and the salaries and expenses of the outdoor staff (including local veterinary inspectors remunerated by fees) engaged upon duties in connection with the actual combating of disease amounted during the same period to approximately £374,000. The administrative duties for which these expenses were incurred are not confined to foot-and-mouth disease only, but cover all diseases of animals concerning which the Ministry takes action.