§ 3. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for changes in the arrangements for the protection of environmental and public health in connection with the slaughtering of animals. [27457]
§ Mr. BoswellWe are always prepared to make any appropriate changes to our arrangements which are recommended on the basis of the best scientific advice in the interests of the environment and public health.
§ Mr. HughesIt follows from recent announcements by the Minister that in the next few months abattoirs will be called on to deal both with uninfected cattle—as in the normal course of events—and with infected cattle. What steps are being taken to reassure the proprietors of abattoirs and, more important, the public that there can and will be no risk of cross-infection while people are trying to do the difficult job of separating infected from uninfected cattle?
§ Mr. BoswellWith respect, the hon. Gentleman has not expressed himself precisely. There is no question of infected cattle being treated in that way in abattoirs, because they will be destroyed by incineration. I fully understand the hon. Gentleman's concern, however. We have imposed the most stringent possible controls for the separation of the various types of material: for instance, all specified bovine material is being stained blue and all cattle being slaughtered under the 30-month scheme are being stained yellow. Regular checks and inspections will be carried out to ensure that those controls are followed rigorously and that the different materials are kept separate, and there are signs that abattoirs and the trade are co-operating fully.
§ Mr. NichollsHas my hon. Friend considered the public health implications of the fact that BSE is considerably more rife on the Continent than is currently being admitted? I have already sent that information to my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister. Has my hon. Friend considered whether it is necessary to protect the British public by imposing a ban on products bought from abroad, given that conditions and safeguards abroad are nowhere near as good as ours? Indeed, has he considered imposing a worldwide ban on exports of such products from other European countries?
§ Mr. BoswellI note what my hon. Friend has said, and the representations that he has made to my right hon. and learned Friend. The question of a ban would be a matter for the Government's advisers, and no doubt it could appropriately be considered in due course.
§ Mr. GarrettBetween 1988 and 1991, some 360 BSE-infected carcases were disposed of in a refuse tip in Norfolk. How general was that practice at the time, and what research has been carried out into the risk of leaching of infected matter from open refuse tips?
§ Mr. BoswellIt is a matter of record that the rules governing the disposal of BSE-infected carcases have been progressively tightened. As I have told the House, a move was made at about that time to complete incineration of those carcases. As for any potential risk caused by carcases going into landfill, I have no evidence from the experts, including those at the Environment Agency, of any danger to the public. That is not surprising, as there is no evidence that the infectious organism persists in the soil.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandWhile we are discussing health and safety, does my hon. Friend agree that unfounded scaremongering is downright disgraceful? Will he join me in welcoming the fact that Wimpy is now ignoring that scaremongering and is rightly returning British beef to its menus? We should all go straight into a Wimpy bar this weekend.
§ Mr. BoswellI should be delighted to engage in an excursion there in due course; perhaps my hon. Friend would care to join me. Wimpy has commendably recognised the scientific advice that is available to all such burger chains. It is a matter of considerable regret that one or two others, despite the advice that they acknowledge, have not yet seen fit to return to the entirely safe and sensible practice of buying and serving British beef.