§ 71. Lieut.-Colonel Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether consideration can now be given to exemp- 48W ting from quarantine dogs brought to this country direct from Malta in view of the fact that there have been no case of rabies in Malta for many years.
§ Sir T. DugdaleNo. There are several countries which claim to have been free from rabies for some years, but I am advised that if dogs from those countries were exempted from the quarantine requirements the opportunities for getting dogs illegally into this country would be greatly increased. Moreover experience has shown that even when dogs are brought direct from countries which are free from rabies it is impossible to avoid some risk that they will come into contact with other dogs or cats while in transit to this country.