§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what previous occasions before last summer Dr. Wilsdon, now Regional Veterinary Officer in Northumberland, had been called in to suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether upon every occasion, including his period of service in the Hereford area, he made the correct diagnosis.
§ Mr. PeartI should explain that my veterinary officers in the field report in full on every case of suspected foot-and-mouth disease to their headquarters at Tolworth, and their diagnosis is agreed 291W after discussion of the details of the condition of each animal affected.
Exact figures of the many cases in which Dr. Wilsdon, over 28 years' service with the Ministry, was called in before last summer are not available, but I know of none in which an incorrect diagnosis was made.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the correspondence between Dr. Wilsdon, Regional Veterinary Officer in Northumberland, and the Chief Veterinary Officer at Tolworth, Surbiton, which was carried on in the weeks following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Rothbury last summer; and whether he will make a statement.