HC Deb 18 December 1972 vol 848 cc918-20
Mr. Peart

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outbreak of swine vesicular disease.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Anthony Stodart)

On Friday 15th December my right hon. Friend was advised by the Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright that the virus responsible for the first three outbreaks in Staffordshire was not foot-and-mouth disease virus but a virus similar to those which the institute isolated and studied following outbreaks in Italy in 1966 and Hong Kong in 1971. While pigs which are affected develop signs and symptoms which are indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease, the virus has not affected other cloven-footed animals and, as my right hon. Friend announced on Friday, the disease has been named swine vesicular disease. An order was made on Friday extending to swine vesicular disease all the restrictions and controls which are applied in dealing with foot-and-mouth disease but in present circumstances slaughter is being confined to pigs.

The total number of outbreaks confirmed is eight and the infected area was extended southwards in Warwickshire and Worcestershire on Friday. The first three outbreaks were directly linked with the initial outbreak and four of the five subsequent outbreaks appear to be linked with one another through the movement of either swill or pigs.

Mr. Peart

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As he will appreciate, this is a worrying time for those in the industry. I hope that he will still exercise caution about carriers even though only pigs are to be slaughtered. We still do not know the incubation period of the virus involved, but I do not want to harry anyone about that. I feel that the Ministry is well aware of this and that its scientists and advisory officers are doing all they can, and I wish them success. We are concerned about this, and I hope that the Minister will continue to keep the House informed.

Mr. Stodart

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he said on the BBC yesterday and for what he said today about the work done by the Department. The precautions are entirely the same as those for foot-and-mouth disease because, as the right hon. Gentleman said, we have no knowledge in this country of the length of survival of the virus We shall continue to exercise all the precautions which would be necessary for foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr. Biffen

Is my hon. Friend aware that in all quarters, particularly in the farming community, there is a wish that the warmest congratulations be extended to those at Pirbright who have been able to identify the disease so speedily? Is swine vesicular disease covered by any of the existing or draft regulations of the EEC concerned with animal health?

Mr. Stodart

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for what he said. I shall have to investigate the second part of his question, and I will let him know.

Mr. Hooson

Will the Minister please confirm that not only do the foot-and-mouth regulations apply but that the compensation procedures are exactly the same? As the Minister is aware, these are very troublesome days for farmers who may be affected.

Mr. Stodart

The compensation payments are identical with those for foot-and-mouth disease. In those cases where cattle were lost—I think there were four—compensation will be paid as for foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Will the Minister confirm that the source of the virus has as yet not been identified? Will he clear up the slight confusion which exists in Derbyshire about exactly how far there are restrictions on the movement of beasts and will he say what is the position about poultry and turkeys during the coming few days before Christmas?

Mr. Stodart

Investigations are still going on as to the origin. Swill was a factor in four of the primary outbreaks, but no imports of either uncooked or unprocessed meat are coming in from Hong Kong or Italy, which have the only previous records of this disease. As I say, investigations are going on. If I may, I will let my hon. Friend know at the earliest moment about the precautions for poultry.

Mr. Mackie

Many farmers, particularly dairy farmers, insure against loss through foot-and-mouth disease. As this is not foot-and-mouth disease, how will farmers who had to have cattle slaughtered be placed?

Mr. Stodart

If any of the four has a consequential loss policy he will be covered up until Friday, when swine vesicular disease was diagnosed, because the insurance covers the slaughter of any stock under a foot-and-mouth order. After Friday, farmers will have to review their policies.

Mr. John Morris

Will the Minister convey sympathy to the farmers who have lost their stock—often the work of a lifetime—and also to the officials who had to make the decision to slaughter animals other than swine? Is the Minister satisfied that compensation is adequate, having regard to rising prices, and will he take into account the cost of re-stocking animals?

Mr. Stodart

I would certainly wish to place on record—and my right hon. Friend already has—my sympathy for those who have had their stock slaughtered. I am certain that I carry the House with me in saying that it would have been criminal folly if we had not acted at once on the assumption that foot-and-mouth disease was involved. As for replacement costs, I cannot go further than to say that the usual procedures will apply.

Mr. Alfred Morris

What consultations have the Department and Ministers had with other countries about possible causes of the outbreak?

Mr. Stodart

This will depend on the results of the investigations and the situation that will obtain when we have diagnosed the cause of the disease.