Mr. FOOT MITCHELLasked the Minister of Agriculture how many animals have been slaughtered since 25th September in connection with the recent 613W outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; whether any information is available as to the origin of this outbreak; and what steps are being taken to confine it to the existing centres of the disease?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe numbers of animals which have been slaughtered on account of foot-and-mouth disease between the 25th September and the 18th November, 1925 (inclusive), are approximately as follow:
- 5,000 cattle,
- 6,000 6heep,
- 2,000 pigs.
It has not been possible to trace the origin of the outbreak. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the steps which are being taken to control the spread of the disease.
Following are the particulars:
The steps taken to confine the disease to the existing centres are those which have been approved by the Departmental Committee which reported in February last, viz.:
- 1. Immediate slaughter, with compensation, of affected animals and those immediately in contact therewith;
- 2. Absolute prohibition of movement of animals within two miles of every infected place and control of movement outside of that radius up to a radius of 15 miles by licence granted only for necessary purposes with absolute prohibition of movement out of the 15 mile circle; fat stock markets may be authorised within these infected areas in order to provide food for the population, but these are subject to veterinary inspection:
(3) Leaflets of advice are distributed to farmers in the areas warning them of the means by which infection may be spread and the steps they should take to prevent it;
(4) In addition the following general precautionary measures are imposed in infected areas: —
- (a) Manure, refuse and offal from slaughter-houses in the infected areas must not be removed out of the areas or to any premises in the areas except by licence, and must be kept separate from animals;
614 - (b) All vehicles used for the carriage of animals by rail or road are required to be specially disinfected;
- (c) All dogs within five miles of an infected place are required to be kept under control by their owners;
- (d) Persons engaged in clipping or dipping sheep to be disinfected; and
- (e) Hunting or coursing with hounds in the infected areas is prohibited.
(5) This week the following additional more stringent measures have been adopted:—
- (a) A partial Standstill Order was put into operation on the 17th instant, regulating the movement of animals by licence over the whole of the Midland and Southern Counties of England, and prohibiting the movement of animals out of that area into any free district. All markets of animals within this large area are subject to veterinary inspection, and imported animals if moved into any part of the affected areas from the standstill area must go either direct to a slaughterhouse for slaughter within 96 hours, or to farm premises for detention for 21 days. They may not be exposed at any market.
- (b) An Order operating to-day has been issued prohibiting hay and straw used for packing goods, and meat wrappings from being brought into contact with animals. The Order also prohibits the exposure in livestock markets of trees, shrubs and other horticultural produce packed in hay and straw.
6. All inspectors, slaughtermen, and other workers employed on infected premises wear special overalls, which are thoroughly disinfected, as well as their boots, hands, etc.
As an additional precaution inspectors disinfect themselves before entering premises for the purpose of inspecting the animals thereon.
§ Mr. A. M. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the officials of the Ministry have been able to trace a common origin of the initial outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease that started recently?
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§ Sir H. BARNSTONNo common origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered.
Mr. SANDEMANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken to ascertain the efficacy of Dr. John Shaw's cure for foot-and-mouth disease in cattle?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONA test of Dr. Shaw's specific was arranged by the Ministry a few months ago. Dr. Shaw himself did not keep his appointment to administer his specific. Afterwards at the Ministry's invitation, representatives of the National Farmers' Union and a committee of Cheshire farmers were invited to co-operate in a test of the material supplied by Dr. Shaw. A statement on the subject by the National Farmers' Union was published in the Press on the 12th August, 1925, which was to the effect that the animals which had been inoculated with Dr. Shaw's preventive had fallen to the disease. This test was undertaken as an exceptional measure in view of the strong claims which had been made for the specific as a preventive of foot-and-mouth disease, and the Ministry cannot contemplate further action in the matter.
Metropolitan Borough. Rateable Value of Agricultural Land in Borough on 6th April, 1924. Amount of Grant paid to Local Authorities under Agricultural Rates Act, 1923. £ £ s. d. Camberwell … … … 429 53 6 11 Deptford … … … 130 22 7 4 Fulham … … … 59 7 16 8 Greenwich … … … 934 133 4 3 Hammersmith … … … 240 26 5 5 Hampstead … … … 149 19 11 9 Islington … … … 12 18 3 Lambeth … … … 354 42 16 5 Lewisham … … … 2,777 319 15 2 Paddington … … … 18 2 6 6 Poplar … … … 35 9 6 11 St. Pancras … … … 277 34 7 4 Stoke Newington … … … 77 10 15 7 Wandsworth … … … 2,980 335 5 3 Woolwich … … … 3,428 450 12 0 Total … … … 11,899 1,468 15 9 Amount of fixed grant under Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, in respect of London area. (This is not apportionable as between Boroughs.) 3,003 2 4 Total amount of Grants 4,471 18 1