§ Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the necessary precautions are taken in the national parks to control the general public and 184W the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease during an outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartPress, radio and television have given whole-hearted support to our appeals to the general public to avoid the danger areas. Posters are exhibited in the immediate area where disease is present, and in the present series of outbreaks notices were put up at many points along the Pennine Way and in Youth Hostels in and around Northumberland.
Our experiences over the years shows that the public heed our warnings and the response in the present case has been excellent. It would be impossible to control the movements of people in an area such as the National Park in Northumberland which includes large tracts of open moorland. But I take this opportunity of recording my appreciation, and the appreciation of the farming community, of the splendid response we are receiving from holiday-makers and all other followers of country pursuits.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to empower Her Majesty's Government to prevent the entry of unauthorised persons into areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. PeartI have been asked to reply.
Many years of experience have shown that our present methods of control are satisfactory and that legislation on the lines proposed is unnecessary. It would also be impracticable to distinguish between essential and inessential movement. In the present case, we have asked the general public, by means of Press, radio, television and posters, to avoid areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease. The response has been excellent: shows, political and social functions, camps, sporting events have been cancelled, and the Ministry of Public Building and Works have closed some of their ancient monuments in the area.