HC Deb 19 December 1967 vol 756 cc370-3W
89.Mr. Dance

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the paper by Mr. H. Pakenham Hamilton on the treatment and cure of foot-and-mouth disease, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement.

Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the information contained in the booklet about the treatment and cure of foot-and-mouth disease by Mr. H. Pakenham Hamilton, which has been supplied by the hon. Member for Antrim, South; what conclusions he has reached as a result of these studies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Pearl:

I have read the pamphlet produced by Mr. H. Pakenham Hamilton about his recollections of the outbreaks at Eaton Home Farms, Cheshire, in 1923–24.

The policy of isolation was fully investigated by the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the epidemic of 1923–24.

This Committee, reporting in 1925 (Cmd. 2350), made estimates of the losses involved in those herds that were isolated and treated, and concluded that a policy of isolation and treatment would be equivalent to the abandonment of any hope of eradicating the disease from this country.

Alleged cures were also dealt with in paragraph 131 of the Report of the Gowers Committee in 1954.

Any representations made to the independent committee which I have undertaken to set up after the present epidemic will no doubt be considered by them.

Mr. Pardoe

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why a consignment of lambs from Wales was allowed to be sent to a slaughterhouse in North Cornwall, passing through an infected area on their journey; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peart:

I am assured that no lambs have moved from Wales to the slaughterhouse concerned since 18th November, up to which time they could be moved without licence from parts of Wales which were not infected or controlled areas. No licence has been issued since then for such a movement, and I have no reason to believe that any has taken place. If the hon. Member has more information, I will make further inquiries.

Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will give comprehensive advice to farmers as to the best ways of securing effective use of approved disinfectants under frost conditions;

(2) what effect the addition of salt to approved disinfectants on straw mats has on the emulsifier; to what extent the addition of salt detracts from the effect of the approved disinfectants; and whether he will make a statement which will include details of experiments carried out in his laboratories relative to this matter.

Mr. Pearl:

Yes. The addition of antifreeze will not impair the efficacy of disinfectants during frost. It is important to change the disinfectant frequently, and this should be done whether there is frost or not. Salt does impair the efficacy of disinfectants, and I am issuing a press notice about the use of disinfectants during frost, pointing this out.

Experiments relating to foot-and-mouth disease are only carried out at Pirbright and are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

Mr. Woodnutt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered the information sent to him on 22nd November by the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight concerning a possible method of providing immunity from foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he will consider instructing his Department to investigate and test the product used in such a method with a view to its use in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peart:

I have considered this information. My policy is to stamp out the disease by slaughter of affected animals and contacts, and prophylactic measures have no place in this policy. Such measures were examined by the Gowers Committee in 1952–54 and the independent committee which I have undertaken to set up when the present emergency ends, to examine our policy and arrangements for dealing with foot-and-mouth disease, will no doubt examine any further representations made to them.

Mr. Flystan Morgan

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider a scheme of financial assistance for farmers who have suffered loss through foot-and-mouth disease but whose farms are of such a character as not to allow them to convert their enterprise to arable farming.

Mr. Peart:

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion and will make a statement at a later date.