§ Mr. MURROUGH WILSONasked the Minister Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the ruling by the Judge in the King's Bench Divisional Court in regard to a sheep scab case near Barnard Castle and what steps he proposes to take in order to remedy the hardship which the Court stated undoubtedly to be created?
Mr. GUINNESSYes, Sir; my attention has been drawn to the case in question. Veterinary inspectors of the local Authority and of the Ministry are highly qualified and have exceptional opportunities for becoming skilful in diagnosing the scheduled diseases. Their diagnoses are so rarely called in question that, while I deplore the hardship involved in this case, I do not think any modification of the existing procedure is rendered necessary. It is essential that prompt action should be taken in combating animal diseases if the spread of 2355W infection is to be arrested, and to this end the decision of the veterinary inspector must continue to be regarded as final.