§ 3.11 p.m.
§ LORD BURTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the disease which broke out amongst salmon in Southern Ireland was caused by bacteria or a virus or some other infection.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I am afraid there is little I can add to the statement which my noble friend Lord Champion made on November 29 in reply to the noble Lord, Lord Nugent of Guildford, when he informed the House of the work which is being done both in this country and in Ireland into the causes of the disease. It has still not been established whether the disease is caused by a bacterium or a virus, either separately or in combination. This type of research is by its nature a slow and laborious process, and I am afraid that it is impossible to predict how long it may take to establish the nature of the disease.
§ LORD BURTONMy Lords, can the noble Lady state whether the Government have considered the possibility of unification of research by all those countries which harvest the North Atlantic salmon?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I think the simple answer to that is, No. If the noble Lord needs more information about the international arrangements already in existence, I can give this, but it all adds up to the fact that at this moment the reply to his question is, No.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, could my noble friend tell me whether there is any danger to human beings from this disease?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I regret that I am unable to give a direct reply to the noble Lord, but if he would like me to obtain this information, I will do so. I think it might be dangerous for me to give an answer off the cuff to that question.