§ 5. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the last outbreak of scrapie disease in sheep occurred in England, Wales or Scotland.
Mr. AmoryScrapie has existed among sheep in Great Britain for many years, but it is not a notifiable disease and I have no records of individual outbreaks.
§ Mr. CrouchWill my right hon. Friend consider making this a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Act, not in order to adopt a slaughter policy, but in an endeavour to get rid of this disease, in view of the fact that it is affecting our export of sheep to Australia and New Zealand in particular?
Mr. AmoryI agree with my hon. Friend that this disease is a real nuisance. One trouble is that it is at present very difficult to diagnose it. The Agricultural Research Council is intensifying its research into the whole problem of scrapie.