§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the £5,718,000 being spent by Agricultural Research Council establishments and other research establishments in 1966–67 is devoted to research into the cure and prevention of foot-and-mouth disease; what progress is being made; to what extent is co-operation being given by European countries where 61W this disease is prevalent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsResearch on foot-and-mouth disease is concentrated at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, and comprises about three-quarters of the work of that Institute. The sum estimated to be spent on the Institute in 1966–67 is £582,000.
Most of the work of the Institute is concerned with long-term studies of foot-and-mouth disease and the various strains of virus which cause it. The Institute is recognised as a World Reference Laboratory for the disease and vaccines have been developed for use abroad. Close co-operation exists between the Institute, the international organisations concerned with the control of animal disease, and the authorities in countries where foot-and-mouth disease is prevalent.