HC Deb 03 May 1984 vol 59 cc529-30
5. Mr. Colin Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of outbreaks of Newcastle disease have been reported to him; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jopling

Seventeen outbreaks of Newcastle disease have been confirmed to date. In all but one outbreak on which investigations have been completed a link has been established with raw material for feedingstuffs contaminated by diseased feral pigeons. Measures have been taken to ensure that the possible risk to poultry from such raw materials is minimised.

Mr. Shepherd

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the marked lack of confidence and concern in the poultry sector at the long-term nature of the infected feral pigeon problem? Will my right hon. Friend be more specific and outline the arrangements for preventing the further infection of silos? What investigations are being made on the various options open to the Ministry for minimising the risk for the future?

Mr. Skinner

It is the hon. Gentleman's fault. Blame the pigeons.

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Jopling

My hon. Friend will recall that we took legislative measures which quickly strengthened our powers to act so that contaminated material leaves stores only under strict Ministry control. Diseased pigeons associated with stores have been detected only in the Liverpool and Birkenhead area. The degree of risk depends upon the extent to which contamination has occurred in a particular store.

Mr. Maginnis

Will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that the high standard of poultry husbandry in Northern Ireland means that no cases of Newcastle disease have occurred there for many years? Will he encourage the poultry industry in Northern Ireland by ensuring that we receive an allocation of intervention grain again this year?

Mr. Jopling

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. Any action that he can take to stop pigeons from Liverpool and Birkenhead going to Northern Ireland would be welcome.

Mr. Mark Hughes

Will the Minister assure the House that no gap remains in legislative control which will allow potentially contaminated foodstuffs to be supplied to poultry producers? There is still a fear that that can happen. What control is there over infected feral pigeons?

Mr. Jopling

The legislative steps that I announced to the House some weeks ago to deal with these matters have been widely welcomed. Contaminated material from stores in areas where diseased pigeons have been discovered can leave those stores only under strict Ministry control.