Foot-and-Mouth Disease

HC Deb 01 August 1952 vol 504 c200W

Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Warwickshire and the adjoining counties of Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, respectively, from November, 1951, to the latest convenient date.

Sir T. Dugdale

The total number of outbreaks from November, 1951, up to today is as follows:

Warwickshire	…	…	9
Leicestershire	…	…	8
Staffordshire	…	…	55
Worcestershire	…	…	none
Gloucestershire	…	…	none
Oxfordshire	…	…	2
Northamptonshire	…	…	8

Colonel Stoddart-Scott

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether the present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease has abated sufficiently to enable him to set up his Departmental committee to review the Government's present policy with regard to this disease;

(2) whether he will take steps to secure that the Departmental committee which he proposes to appoint to look into foot-and-mouth disease will contain some independent scientific experts who are not committed to the present slaughter policy of his Department.

Sir T. Dugdale

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement about this committee that I made in the debate on the Adjournment today.