Animal Diseases (Hansard, 21 February 1991)

§ 7. Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the British Veterinary Association to discuss the control of animal diseases in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Maclean
My ministerial colleagues and I meet the BVA periodically, most recently on 13 December 1990, as do my officials, to discuss a range of subjects including animal disease control.

§ Mr. Dunnachie
Has the Minister noted what Mr. John Logie wrote in Farmers Weekly of 25 January? Mr. Logie is a leading member of the Scottish knackery industry and is greatly concerned about the number of knackeries that are closing in Britain. In particular, there is great concern about the number of farmers leaving animal carcases to rot in the countryside. Mr. Logie wrote: It is really beyond belief that the Government is ignoring what could become a major health hazard. It would be terrible if the public were poisoned before something is done. Does the Minister agree that this is a major concern for human and animal health?

§ Mr. Maclean
Let us get one thing straight from the start. There would be no knacker industry in Britain if the Parliamentary Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), had not pulled off a marvellous coup in Brussels just before Christmas, when he protected the whole knacker industry for at least the next five years. My Department is taking strenuous action to ensure that there are alternative systems available. The knacker industry can continue collecting dead animals. We are giving help and advice to farmers on other disposal methods. We are spending £800 million per year in general support for the livestock industry. I do not think it reasonable to ask the taxpayer to spend any more money on specific subsidies to farmers. We shall take strenuous action against anyone dumping animals by the roadside.

§ Mr. Harris
While accepting a lot of what my hon. Friend said about the knacker industry, may I ask him to accept that there is great concern among veterinary surgeons, particularly in Cornwall, about the disposal of fallen animals and animals that have disease? Is my hon. Friend further aware of the concern about the future of the Polwheal veterinary investigation service station which covers the whole of Cornwall? May we have an assurance that that station is not under threat, as rumours suggest?

§ Mr. Maclean
I cannot deal with the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question because the matter is under review. We are aware of the concern in some sections of the agriculture and knacker industries. We have had extensive discussions with knackermen and renderers. There are still outlets for the materials involved if farmers wish to use them. Alternative disposal systems are available and, as I said earlier, only the action taken by the Government has prevented the EC from closing down the whole knacker industry.