§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of foot-and-mouth disease, if any, have been notified during the Recess, and in what parts of the country; and how many and what districts are at present scheduled as infected areas?
Mr. GUINNESSDuring the Parliamentary Recess, from 3rd August to 6th November, 19 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed in Great Britain. These were distributed amongst eight centres in the following counties in order of date: Lancashire (near Preston), Yorkshire (near Beverley), Gloucestershire (near Bristol), Kent (Swanley), Cheshire (Crewe), Devonshire (Plymouth) and Dorset (at Bridport and Blandford). There are at the present time five areas under restrictions, namely, in Kent, Cheshire, Devonshire and two in Dorset.
Major DAVIESasked the Minister of Agriculture what, if any, progress has been made during the past year in scientific investigation into the causes and control of foot-arid-mouth disease?
Mr. GUINNESSI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Third Progress Report of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee which was published in June last. The work of the Committee is being continued in five different laboratories, and the Pirbright Experimental Station has recently been refitted to enable work to be carried out on a large scale on the larger animals.
Major DAVIESasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the figures showing the number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which have occurred since 1st August; the number of 1121W animals slaughtered in connection therewith; and the amount of compensation paid?
Mr. GUINNESSTwenty-five outbreaks have been confirmed since 1st August, involving the slaughter of 2,055 animals. The compensation amounts to £24,014.