§ Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent hides, skins, fur, or wool are coming to England from a country which is now having outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether these articles are treated before or after despatch to prevent them being carriers of infection?
Mr. StanleyI understand that foot-and-mouth disease at present exists in few of the British countries but in a number of the foreign countries from which hides, skins, furs and wool are imported into the United Kingdom. Hides and skins coming from the Continent of Europe are admitted into this 995W country only after it has been shown that they satisfy the requirements laid down by the Ministry of Agriculture, and the importation of certain descriptions of hair or wool is subject to regulations imposed by the Home Office under the Anthrax Prevention Act, 1919. Apart from these safeguards, I have no information as to whether imported goods of the kinds mentioned in the question are treated before or after despatch with a view to preventing them from spreading infection.