HC Deb 16 December 1925 vol 189 cc1451-2W
Mr. EVERARD

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a number of agricultural workers have lost their employment through the slaughtering of cattle under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Regulations; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable these men to be granted compensation, on the same scale as that paid as benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, until the farm where they were employed is allowed to be restocked?

Mr. GUINNESS

I am not aware that any appreciable number of agricultural workers have lost their employment as suggested, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases which have come to his notice, I shall be glad to have inquiries made with a view to ascertaining whether other work is available. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Departmental Committee, which considered the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which occurred in 1923-24, made a recommendation on this subject, and I propose to refer the matter to the Inter-Departmental Committee, which is now considering the question of the application of unemployment insurance to agriculture.

Mr. SOMERVILLE

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the standstill Order has been effective in reducing the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he can give the number of outbreaks since the Order came into force, and for a corresponding period immediately before that date?

Mr. GUINNESS

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the 30 days preceding the introduction of the Order on the 17th November, 157 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred, compared with 61 in the corresponding period since that date. Moreover, in the past three weeks the number of outbreaks have progressively declined.

Mr. EVERARD

asked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to enabling local authorities to more easily carry out the Foot-and-Month Disease Regulations, he will make an extra grant to those counties where the disease exists to enable them to obtain additional police assistance?

Mr. GUINNESS

I have been asked to reply. Section 43 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, requires the police officers of each police area to execute and enforce the Act and every Order of the Ministry of Agriculture thereunder. It is not proposed to make an extra grant to counties where the disease exists to enable them to carry out the Foot-and-Month Disease Regulations.