§ Mr. T. HENDERSONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, during epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease, animals awaiting slaughter in abattoirs or lairages have been condemned on account of the disease: and whether, in such cases, the Ministry have paid, or intend to pay, to the owners of such animals the same rates of compensation as are paid to owners of live stock condemned on farms?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe Diseases of Animals Acts empower the Ministry to pay compensation only for such animals as are slaughtered in order to stop the spread of the disease. Animals awaiting slaughter in an abattoir do not give rise to such a danger and it is not incumbent on the Ministry to order their slaughter whereby they would become subjects for compensation.