§ Mr. R. M. MITCHELLasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reduce the detention period on Irish store cattle in Perthshire from 28 days to six days, in respect of the necessity for a supply of store cattle and the absence of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland and in the Perth area?
§ Mr. FALCONERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Ireland has long been free from foot-and-mouth disease, and that Scotland, with the exception of one case in Ayrshire, is now also free from disease: that the present Regulations making the importation of store cattle from Ireland subject to a detention of 28 days at a farm are practically prohibitive, so far as the supply to Scottish farmers is concerned, and serious losses are, in consequence, being caused to them; and whether he is now prepared to modify the Regulations so as to admit of the importation and distribution of Irish cattle in the counties of Scotland which are free from disease, subject to a detention of six days?
Mr. SMITHThere have been a number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the last few weeks in several counties in Scotland, the last being an outbreak in Perthshire on the 14th instant. My right hon. Friend is advised, therefore, that the position as to foot-and-mouth disease is not yet such as to justify a modification of the regulations. While a return to the normal methods of conducting the store cattle trade cannot be contemplated for the time being, I would point out that provision exists whereby Scottish farmers can obtain Irish stores direct from the ports, and a farmer who buys store cattle will normally keep them for a considerable period.