§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now specify a definite date when markets will be opened in Kent provided no further outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs meantime in the county; whether the practice of removing restrictions without previous notice is very inconvenient to those who have cattle and sheep for sale, as well as to auctioneers and others who have to advertise sales; and whether he will in future give as long notice as possible of the dates on which restrictions 2454W will be removed in the absence of fresh cases of disease?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI am issuing an order which will withdraw all restrictions from the whole of Kent as from the 8th instant, with the exception of two small areas round Tonbridge and Sittingbourne, respectively. This Order will therefore enable markets to be held in Kent outside the two areas mentioned. With regard to the second and third parts of the question I may say that while I regret that any inconvenience is occasioned in connection with revision of the Ministry's Orders, it is not always feasible to give long notice of the proposed withdrawal of restrictions. As much notice as possible is, however, always given.