Mr. McNeilasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the remoteness of Mull, he will, instead of slaughtering livestock, put this island in quarantine in an effort to combat the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI am certain that the loss suffered by the islanders under any such arrangement would be heavier in the long run than under the slaughter policy. Moreover, the island would be for many months a source from which the mainland of Scotland might be infected, not only by movements of cattle and sheep from Mull but also by other agencies, for example people and birds. The slaughter policy is the only practicable way of eradicating the disease, and I cannot agree to depart from that policy in the Island of Mull.