HC Deb 14 May 1969 vol 783 cc1389-91
19. Mr. Kitson

asked the Minister Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the figures of herds and cattle now free of brucellosis; whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in eradicating the disease; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Up to the end of April, 4,027 herds, comprising some 420,000 animals, had been registered as accredited under the Brucellosis (Accredited Herds) Scheme.

The progress which I reported in my reply of 19th December, 1968 to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody) is being well maintained.—[Vol. 775, c. 463.]

Mr. Kitson

Is the Minister aware that the progress of eradication is slowing down, and that many vets believe that unless there are some incentives the scheme will come to a standstill? Now that the pedigree herds are in and a lot of the retail producers are in, there is not the incentive for others to join. Will the right hon. Gentleman look again to see how encouragement can be given to the farming industry so that eradication can go forward a little faster?

Mr. Hughes

I am very anxious that this scheme should go forward as quickly as possible. I would not agree that there is any danger of the scheme slowing down or that progress is slow. The hon. Gentleman will know that this is a very difficult disease, requiring a complex series of tests and considerable veterinary and administrative supervision. I am as anxious as the hon. Gentleman to see progress made, but he and the House must realise that before we can come to the stage of complete eradication we must build up a reservoir of brucella-free animals for replacement. This is the only way in which it can be done.

Mr. Godber

I acknowledge that some progress has been made, but is the Minister aware that there is great concern among farmers in general that we are lagging behind other countries? Will he seriously look at the possibilities of extending the scheme by area eradication—I agree that we cannot go the whole hog at the moment—and possibly linking it with compensation? Would not that help things along?

Mr. Hughes

I have looked at the possibility of area eradication, and have had applications from certain areas for consideration of an experiment or pilot scheme of this kind, but the advice I have received from my experts is that this is not practicable at this stage, that the progress we are making now is satisfactory and that, for the reasons I have given, the way we are going about it is satisfactory.