§ 3. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what immediate plans he has for the more effective eradication of the warble fly which harasses cattle in the summer months and causes serious losses in the leather industry; whether his attention has been called to the claims made for a chemical spray to prevent warble fly attack; and what other lines of investigation are being pursued.
§ Mr. GodberAn extensive publicity campaign will again be undertaken to draw the attention of stock owners to the importance of carrying out derris dressings to control warble fly infestation of cattle. Field trials of systemic drugs to destroy the warble fly larvae in cattle are in progress. I have seen an advertisement of a spray claimed to serve the purpose mentioned in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, but I have no further information about this spray.
§ Sir A. HurdAre we getting anywhere in our programme of trying to eradicate the warble fly? We go on year after year with the same kind of programme. Can my hon. Friend tell us when, as with bovine tuberculosis, he hopes to bring an end to this pest?
§ Mr. GodberI can understand my hon. Friend's concern about this most important matter. I can assure him that the work on systemic drugs is important. I have seen some of it myself, and I have hopes that we may find a solution.
§ Mr. ChampionIn view of the evil of this pest, will not the hon. Gentleman try some other method besides those that he has used in the past, and try to ensure that farmers use the preventatives which are available to them?
§ Mr. GodberCertainly. If any new preparation is put forward to the Veterinary Therapeutic Testing Board, it will be very glad to consider any suggestions which are made to them.