§ 29. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of fowl pest have occurred in Norfolk so far this year; how many birds and eggs have been destroyed: and his estimate of the cost in dealing with these outbreaks and the amount of compensation to be paid.
Mr. AmoryUp to 27th November there have been 26 outbreaks of fowl pest this year in Norfolk, involving the slaughter of 106,575 birds and the destruction of 16,542 hatching eggs. Compensation amounts to about £134,000.
§ Mr. DyeIs the Minister aware that these recent outbreaks of fowl pest have been of such a mild character that the owners and those looking after the birds have not noticed it, and that it has been detected only by blood tests and laboratory examinations? Is it not quite a different disease from that with which we were dealing a few years ago?
Mr. AmoryThe hon. Member may have more information about this than I have, but I understand that the serious outbreaks recently in Norfolk have been among ducks, and I am advised that in ducks the disease is extremely difficult to diagnose. That is why it is serious, because it can be conveyed by ducks just as easily as by poultry.