§ Captain CAZALETasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Ministry of Agriculture will consider publishing daily in the leading papers the exact locality of additional cases of foot-and-mouth disease, as such statement as another case is reported in Wiltshire is of little help to a farmer wishing to take extra precautions in the event of there being a case reported within five miles of his farm?
Mr. GUINNESSIt is the duty of the local authorities to make known in an infected district the infected places, the prohibited areas and the extent of country subject to restrictions. The information given to the Press by the Ministry can hardly be expected to reach individual farmers, but I am willing that it shall in future specify the exact locality of each outbreak.
§ Captain CAZALETasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Ministry could arrange through their local inspectors for 63W weekly bulletins to be circulated in the local papers as regards precautions and Regulations for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease owing to the difficulty experienced by farmers in scattered districts of getting possession of the necessary leaflets?
Mr. GUINNESSIt is the statutory duty of local authorities to publish, either in newspapers having local circulation or by means of placards and handbills, the Regulations imposed by the Ministry for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease. The Ministry has supplied copies of a leaflet, entitled "Advice to Farmers," in connection with foot-and-mouth disease, to every local authority and police force, and has asked that a supply may be kept at all police stations so as to be readily available to hand to stockowners in the areas concerned. It would be impossible to place further duties upon the inspectors in charge of an outbreak, but I am considering what information can be issued through the news service prepared at the Ministry.
§ Sir F. SANDERSONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that local offices in the Blackburn area, representing his Department in regard to foot-and-mouth disease, have stipulated that passes, granting movement orders for cattle, are only issued between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and that this rule is quite unknown even to the police in that district; and whether, in view of the fact that many farmers concerned have to travel long distances to attend such local offices, at considerable inconvenience and expense, he will instruct his local representatives to issue passes at any time during the usual working day, and to take steps to ensure that all persons concerned know the times and places at which such orders may be obtained?
Mr. GUINNESSShortly after the establishment of a local office at Blackburn, outbreaks of disease were being confirmed in rapid succession, and applications for licences were being made at all hours of the day and night. In order to enable the staff available to deal with the more urgent work in connection with these outbreaks, and in the interests of applicants, it was decided that applications for licences should be made between64W 9 a.m.-ll a.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m. A notice to this effect was issued to the Press and no complaints have been received of any inconvenience. As soon as the outbreaks decreased in number the hours were extended, and for the last 14 days the hours within which licences have been granted daily have been 8.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing the great waste and cost to this country of foot-and-mouth disease and that France, which is in such close proximity to us, takes no steps to stamp it out, he will consider the advisability of appointing some official or unofficial body of representative persons to confer with them with a view to inducing them to adopt some measures for dealing with this disease?
Mr. GUINNESSAt the instance of the French Government an International Veterinary Bureau, to which Great Britain has signified adherence, has been formed, with headquarters at Paris, to discuss questions of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. Preliminary discussions have already taken place, but it is obvious that the insular position of Great Britain gives enormous advantages as regards the application of an eradication policy, which Continental countries' unfortunately do not possess.