Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 November 1947.
Sir Frank Medlicott
, Norfolk Eastern
12:00,
10 November 1947
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the concern felt in the County of Norfolk and else where over the still serious position in regard to fowl pest; and what further steps he is taking to stamp out this disease.
Mr Gerald Williams
, Tonbridge
asked the Minister of Agriculture what further steps he is taking to overcome fowl pest in view of the increase of this disease in September last.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
I share the concern felt in many parts of the country about the spread of fowl pest; I have made an Order under the Diseases of Animals Acts restricting in a large part of England, the sale, exhibition and movement of poultry, and the operations of dealers. I hope that these measures will quickly reduce the incidence of the disease.
Mr. Baldwin:
Does not the Minister consider that the time is ripe to prohibit the importation of all poultry from the Continent, whether alive or dead, in view of the very virulent nature of this pest? Does not the Minister consider that the food in this country has been reduced rather than increased by importing this poultry into this country from abroad?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
No, Sir. The importation of live birds from any country in which fowl pest is known to exist is prohibited. The Ministry of Food have restricted the importation of dead poultry from Europe to carcasses which have been eviscerated, beheaded and have had their legs removed.
Mr Edwin Gooch
, Norfolk Northern
asked the Minister of Agriculture if, with a view to assisting in preventing the spread of fowl pest, he will introduce regulations stopping hunting from taking place in infected areas.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
No, Sir. I am advised that there is no evidence that would connect hunting with the present spread of infection.
Mr Edwin Gooch
, Norfolk Northern
Does my right hon. Friend agree that very much alarm has been caused by the continuance of hunting in areas where there is fowl pest; and, in any case, does not he agree that the people engaged in hunting would be better employed lifting sugar beet?
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
That is a matter of opinion.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
