Mr George Bowyer: I will convey what the hon. Member says to my right hon. Friend.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has received a number of statements regarding the effect of oil pollution on inshore fisheries and has transmitted information on this subject through the Board of Trade to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for use in connection with the inquiries which are at present being conducted by the Communications and...
Mr George Bowyer: My right hon. Friend is advised that whilst there is no evidence that the virus of foot-and-mouth disease could remain alive in the flesh of chilled or frozen meat during the transit of such meat from South America to this country, it would be possible for the virus to survive in the bone marrow of such meat.
Mr George Bowyer: As regards the first part of the question, compensation payable to farmers in respect of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is related solely to the market value at the time of slaughter of any animals which may be slaughtered by direction of the Ministry on account of their being affected with foot-and-mouth disease or of their being exposed in any manner to infection. Such compensation...
Mr George Bowyer: Yes, but I am sure the hon. and gallant Member will realise that the Ministry of Agriculture has no jurisdiction over tithe rentcharge.
Mr George Bowyer: My right hon. Friend hopes this will be possible.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. The Government are giving very careful consideration to this matter, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.
Mr George Bowyer: According to returns collected annually on 4th June, the total numbers of regular and casual workers, male and female, employed on agricultural holdings in England and Wales in 1933 and 1934 were 716,000 and 688,000 respectively. Figures for 1935 will not be available until August next. These returns do not enable those engaged in horticulture and market gardening to be distinguished separately.
Mr George Bowyer: The number of holdings above one acre and not exceeding 50 acres in extent in England and Wales in Junt, 1930, was 255,000, with a total area of 4,045,000 acres. Particulars of acreage of such holdings for later years are not available, but the number in 1934 was 243,000. These figures include parcels of land which are separately returned, but in many cases comprise areas of accommodation and...
Mr George Bowyer: All imported eggs are required to bear an indication of origin marked on the shell. Further, home produced eggs which have been subjected to cold storage or to any other form of preservation, are required to be suitably distinguished from fresh eggs by means of marks on the shell. It is, therefore, already the case that the only eggs which may be sold unmarked in this country are fresh eggs...
Mr George Bowyer: The White Paper (Cmd. 4828) presented to Parliament in March last set forth the views of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on the meat situation and outlined the policy which the Government desire to bring into operation as soon as possible for the assistance of the livestock industry. Negotiations with the Governments of meat exporting countries are still proceeding.
Mr George Bowyer: I think my right hon. Friend must wait until the negotiations which are pending have been concluded.
Mr George Bowyer: I expect so, but I will bring the question to the notice of my right hon. Friend.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend's attention has recently been called to the position of the Louth canal, and he is endeavouring as soon as possible to proceed with the constitution of elective drainage boards for this and other areas in East Lincolnshire.
Mr George Bowyer: Three petitions have been received for the constitution of elective boards in the area to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and steps are now being taken to give effect to these petitions in accordance with the provisions of the Land Drainage Act, 1930. As regards the last part of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend's attention is called to Section 55 of the Act which authorises...
Mr George Bowyer: My right hon. Friend regrets that at this stage he is not in a position to indicate when the report referred to is likely to be received.
Mr George Bowyer: The hon. Gentleman must realise that the Commission has a very wide field of inquiry both as regards catching and distribution and that the report cannot be hurried.
Mr George Bowyer: I have been asked to reply. The conduct of the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Tithe Rent-charge is a matter for the Commission. My right hon. Friend is, however, informed by the chairman that although he regrets that on the morning of the first public sitting some members of the public could not be accommodated, there have been vacant seats on every subsequent occasion, and in the...
Mr George Bowyer: As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the question, of intro- during legislation on the subject of tithe rent-charge must await the report of the Royal Commission which is now sitting.
Mr George Bowyer: Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred during this month in six areas, the majority of the cases being in the Lindsey, Lincolnshire, area. Two outbreaks near Grimsby were probably independent of the other cases in that area, in which, however, the means of spread of infection have not definitely been established. The initial cause of infection in any of these six areas has not yet...
