Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎138v] (276/442)

1913 Foot-and-Mouth Disease. HOUSE OF COMMONS Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 1914
[Mr. Russell.]
arrangements could be made for their
being landed at Birkenhead.
Mr. DORIS: Is the right hon. Gentle
man aware that the Westport authorities
have made arrangements with the Birken
head authorities for the immediate
slaughter at the port, of stock from West-
port 1 ?
Mr RUSSELL: If arrangements have
been made for immediate slaughter I do
not think much difficulty can arise. Per
haps the hon. Member will communicate
with my right hon. Friend.
20. Mr. HICKS BEACH asked the Presi
dent of the Board of Agriculture whether
any instructions were issued to the ex
hibitors of cattle and sheep at the Royal
Show to keep their animals isolated on
their return home from the show; and
whether any instructions were sent to the
various county authorities to have those
animals inspected by a competent veteri
nary officer immediately they returned to
their homes ?
Mr. RUNCIMAN: On receiving an
assurance from the veterinary officers of
the Royal Agricultural Society that the
animals which had been sent to the Don
caster Show were healthy, permits for
their removal to their respective destina
tions were issued by one of the Board’s
inspectors. Particulars of the permits
issued for the movement of the animals
were then supplied to the various local
authorities, who were asked to serve De
tention Notices on the owners of the ani
mals, and to keep the animals under
observation until the 8th instant.
Mr. HICKS BEACH: When were the
particulars sent to the various local autho
rities ?
Mr. RUNCIMAN : As soon as the permits
were issued.
Mr. HICKS BEACH: I ask because of
it being brought to my notice where some
cattle were sent back on the Monday and
arrived home then, and the inspector was
not informed till the following Saturday?
Mr. RUNCIMAN: I should like to have
particulars, and shall certainly inquire if
that were the case.
21. Mr. STANIER asked the President
of the Board of Agriculture whether he
will take steps for the prevention of offals
^nd parts of carcasses being sent to this
country from Ireland while foot-and-mouth
disease exists, in view of the danger of
disease being spread by this means from
Ireland 1
Mr. RUNCIMAN: As I am at present
advised I do not consider that the risk of
the introduction of foot-and-mouth dis
ease by means of offal and parts of car
casses brought from Ireland, except, of
course, from the infected places, is so
appreciable as to justify me in prohibit
ing their importation, but as a precau
tionary measure the Local Government
Board have been good enough, at my sug
gestion, to issue a circular letter asking
local authorities to instruct their meat in
spectors and other sanitary officers to
keep a careful look out for any suspicious
lesions in heads, tongues, and feet, and to
bring any such lesions to the notice of a
veterinary inspector without delay.
Mr. STANIER: Can the right hon. Gen
tleman tell us whether these heads were
more mutilated than is customary ?
Mr. T. M. HEALY : Why is it if the right
hon. Gentleman does not think there is
any risk, he prohibits the exportation of
hay from Belfast ?
Mr. RUNCIMAN : I am not prepared to
argue the whole matter at Question Time,
but I may point out that the heads go
straight to the slaughter-house, while the
hay goes direct to the cattle.
Mr. T. M. HEALY: Yes, but hay from
Belfast comes from a place at least 100
miles from Swords.
23. Mr. CHARLES BATHURST asked
whether there is apprehension among
flock-masters in the South of England, in
view of the forthcoming annual sheep fairs,
at the action of the Board in reopening the
port of Bristol for the admission of
fat stock from Ireland; and whether, in
view of the continued prevalence of the
disease in that country and the immunity
therefrom so far of the South-West and
the greater part of the South of England,
he will for the present reimpose the
embargo 1
Mr. RUNCIMAN: The landing of fat
stocks from Ireland at the Foreign Animals
Wharf at Bristol is subject to all the very
stringent and detailed requirements of the
Foreign Animals Orders with regard to
the examination and slaughter of the
animals at the wharf, and the landing and
disinfection of dung, fodder, litter, and