HC Deb 22 November 1951 vol 494 cc563-4
53. Mr. Richard Fort

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to compel the disinfection of egg boxes by fumigation as a means of preventing the spread of fowl pest.

Sir T. Dugdale

My veterinary officers do not consider that egg boxes have been a material factor in the spread of fowl pest, and I am advised that it is not necessary at present to make it obligatory for all egg boxes to be fumigated as a routine measure. We should not hesitate to require the fumigation of egg boxes either over the whole country or in an area if we thought it necessary.

Mr. Fort

Have the veterinary officers of my right hon. and gallant Friend's Department discovered all the methods by which fowl pest is carried from farm to farm so as definitely to exclude it being carried by egg boxes?

Sir T. Dugdale

In Lancashire in which my hon. Friend is particularly interested, the evidence is that egg boxes are not helping to spread the disease at the moment, but it is the practice of egg packing stations in the area to destroy any egg boxes which arrive from premises on which it has been reported fowl pest is suspected to exist.