§ 36. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what sources of infection he attributes the primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Shropshire and Warwickshire which necessitated movement restrictions covering 18 counties.
Mr. VaneThe primary outbreaks in Shropshire and Warwickshire were among 1744 pigs believed to have been fed with inadequately treated swill which may have contained infected meat imported from South America.
§ Sir A. HurdI congratulate my hon. Friend on being a little less coy about attributing the cause in this instance. Does he realise that this is a matter of very grave concern, not only to farmers in the 18 counties already subject to control of movement orders, but to the other three areas reported today—Cornwall, Devon and Somerset? Does he appreciate that this is a serious matter and that we must pin the blame where it properly belongs so that whatever faults there may be can be remedied.
§ Sir J. DuncanIn view of what has been said, will my hon. Friend ban the importation—at any rate, for the time being—of pork and pig meat from South America?
Mr. VaneThe proposed ban on the import of pork and pig meat from South America became effective recently.