Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the unusually virulent and infectious mature of the foot-and-mouth disease virus now affecting many parts of England, he will seek immediate powers to protect Scottish farmers by setting up road blocks with cleansing stations on all roads leading into Scotland, with inspectors on duty to ensure the thorough 429W disinfection of all motor vehicles, and in particular, those that have been anywhere near the affected areas.
§ Mr. RossThe Border is in fact closed at present to all movements of livestock from the south, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have the situation under constant review. We are prepared to institute further safeguarding measures, whenever it seems necessary or desirable to do so, to limit the spread of this unprecedented epidemic. As always with foot-and-mouth disease, care must be taken not to introduce controls that could do more damage to the country's economic life than the risk existing at any given time would justify.