HC Deb 14 December 1966 vol 738 cc432-3
6. Mr. Kitson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legistlation to empower veterinary surgeons of his Department to enter premises where there is a known infection of salmonella 1 typhimurium in calves to stop the spread of the disease.

Mr. John Mackie

No, Sir, I know of no practical steps that any of our veterinary staff could take, if they had this power, that could not be adequately undertaken by the owner and his own veterinary surgeon. This would also be virtually equivalent to compulsory notification and, as I indicated in my Answer on the 2nd November to the hon. Member, no useful action could follow this.— [Vol. 735, c. 94.]

Mr. Kitson

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that that is a most unsatisfactory Answer? Is he aware that recently 59 people suffering from salmonella typhimurium were taken to hospital in Midhurst, Sussex, that 36 cattle died and that outbreaks are continual all over the country? The Ministry of Health is as hamstrung as the vets in his Department. Will the hon. Gentleman look at this to see whether something can be done?

Mr. Mackie

The information given by the hon. Gentleman is very serious indeed, and I shall certainly bring it to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. I would not like the House to think that my Ministry is not very conscious of this difficulty with salmonella typhimurium, but, as I have explained to the House on previous occasions, there are more than 1,000 strains of it. The hon. Gentleman has mentioned only one. It is a very serious one, and we are not taking this matter lightly but it is a very difficult matter both for the medical and the veterinary people to deal with.

Mr. Godber

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has said that he will look at this again. Will he accept, as my hon. Friend said, that this is a very serious matter from two aspects, first, in relation to cattle itself and the need to try to save calf losses which are very serious, and, secondly, from the human aspect, which I appreciate is not particularly the concern of his Department to make a substantial case, but will he and his right hon. Friend look at it again?

Mr. Mackie

I take account of what the right hon. Gentleman says very seriously indeed.