§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD RAGLANMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to encourage the eradication of the warble fly.]
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, the best means of controlling this pest is by the preventive application of organophosphorous dressing in the autumn. This will reduce the annual level of infestation in a herd rapidly and spectacularly, but the treatment is not 100 per cent. effective and complete eradication of the parasite from this country would be very difficult and very costly. The dressing is simple to apply, and for several years the Agricultural Departments have been conducting publicity and propaganda each autumn to encourage farmers to dress their cattle as a routine measure of good husbandry. The Warble Fly Campaign Committee, established at the instigation of these Departments, advises and encourages farmers in the use of these dressings, and Departments give encouragement and advice to this Committee. They are quite willing to discuss with the National Farmers' Unions whether there are any other useful steps which could be taken to encourage the voluntary use of these dressings for the prevention of warble infestation.
§ LORD RAGLANMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. He knows the considerable damage and loss of value caused by the grub of this fly to hides, and the intense discomfort and pain caused to cattle, and will agree, I think, that between the months of March and June it is easy to discern the little 433 lumps on the backs of cattle. Does he not think that, with the new and very effective organophosphorous dressing that is now available, it would be a simple matter to secure eradication by forbidding the sale of affected animals in markets?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, I am aware of the discomfort to animals, and the damage done to hides as a result of this pest. But so far as the latter part of my noble friend's supplementary question is concerned, there are no regulations which prohibit the sale at auctions of cattle infested with warbles. Such an order could be made under the Diseases of Animals Act 1950, but I would remind my noble friend that there would be great difficulties. In the first place, such an order would have only a limited application; it could be effective only during the relatively short period when infestation is apparent. At other times, infested cattle might be sold which would later develop visible infestation in the herds to which they were moved. Secondly, the order would be very difficult to police. Thorough enforcement would require inspection at each market. The Ministry have not the staff to undertake this, and it is unlikely that local authorities would be able to carry it out.
§ LORD RAGLANMy Lords, as with this new dressing eradication is at last possible, could serious thought be given to ways of seeing that farmers get their cattle warble-free? If it is too difficult for local authorities or the Ministry to police such a regulation could the onus for inspection and rejection be put upon livestock auctioneers?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, I note what my friend has to say about the point. This is a different aspect. I can promise my noble friend that I will inform my right honourable friend of the further suggestion made by my noble friend, and will ask him to give it what attention he can to see whether it is possible to find some such solution as advocated by my noble friend.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there has been a pretty good response to the campaign in this country, and would he ask the Eire Government whether they would assist in the campaign? Is the 434 noble Lord further aware that the importation of Irish cattle, which is a very important part of the beef herd, brings in a great deal of warble as a rule and that a little co-operation from Eire would be very welcome?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. I am aware of that fact, and I promise that I will once again draw my right honourable friend's attention to this problem.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, am I right in thinking that if the approved dressing of cattle were universally applied for two years, it would break the life-cycle of the warble fly and the pest would be eliminated?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, it would certainly go a long way towards eliminating the pest altogether. I would point out that a good deal of attention has been given to the problem of trying to eradicate this completely, but so far, despite all the attention given to it, it has not been possible to get a 100 per cent. cure. But my right honourable friend the Minister is keeping on with it.