§ 19. Mr. Monroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in identifying the disease affecting salmon in the Solway rivers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyThe external symptoms are similar to those shown by infected salmon in Irish rivers, where the disease was first noted, but it has not proved possible so far to isolate and identify the precise form of organism which is responsible.
§ Mr. MonroIs the Minister aware that the disease has now been prevalent in the British Isles for over a year? Is he quite satisfied that sufficient money and manpower have been put into research and eradication?
§ Mr. HoyThe disease has been present for quite a long time. Despite the best research work that has been done, the cause has not yet been found. We hope to fill a new post for a fish pathologist to intensify our work in this respect.
§ Mr. BrewisCan the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is a cure on the horizon?
§ Mr. HefferWould my hon. Friend tell us whether the research inquiries are being co-ordinated? I understand there have been a number of different researches, which has led to some confusion.
§ Mr. HoyI can assure my hon. Friend that the research work is being co-ordinated, not only among research workers in our own country, but also among those in Ireland, America and elsewhere.