§ 10. Mr. Kitsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will introduce a scheme to eliminate brucellosis; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure of £40 million which his Department estimates will be the cost of the eradication scheme.
§ Mr. PeartConsideration is being given to this problem, but no decision has yet been made.
I estimate that about one-half to three-quarters of a million female cattle over 20 months would react to blood tests. Under an immediate eradication scheme, they would have to be slaughtered and, 2074 assuming compensation at £70 per head, this would amount to between £35 million and £50 million for compensation alone. Costs of testing and administration would add several million pounds.
The sums involved are, therefore, very large. For this reason I am also giving consideration to a more gradual approach, under which the immediate costs would be smaller.
§ Mr. KitsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Northern Ireland they have succeeded in practically eradicating brucellosis at a cost of about £1 per head? On this sort of figure, the cost to us would be less than £10 million. Does he not agree that to contemplate introducing a brucellosis eradication scheme of total slaughter right away is nonsense? Most of us would welcome his introducing a gradual scheme. Is he not hiding behind——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Questions must be shorter, even on agriculture.
§ Mr. PeartI gave the hon. Member figures in answer to his Question. That is precisely why I am looking at the possibility of a gradual scheme.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWould the right hon. Gentleman consider introducing a compulsory vaccination scheme with S.19?
§ Mr. PeartI am not promising anything. I said that I am considering the introduction of a gradual scheme.
§ Mr. BrewisWould the right hon. Gentleman introduce it first for dairy herds, because humans catch undulant fever from them and this is a very important consideration?