Earl of DALKEITHasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the losses which are being sustained by pedigree stock breeders in this country in consequence of the import regulations set up by the United States of America, Canada and Ireland, and whether he is taking any steps in the matter?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe regulations of the United States, Canada and Ireland, to which reference is made in the question, are imposed with a view to protect those countries from the risk of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease from Great Britain, and in view of the existence of the disease in England at the present time the Ministry doubt the expediency of approaching those countries with a view to a relaxation of their restrictions. If a similar disease position arose in the United States, Canada or Ireland, the Ministry would adopt the same policy of imposing restrictions on animals from those countries.