§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who imported the day-old turkey poults of the Williams strain from the United States of America; how many were imported, and under what regulations his Department allowed the importation; after quarantine in Wales, to how many farmers, and where, the turkey poults were sent; and how many developed Arizona paracolon.
§ Mr. John MackieDay-old turkey poults of this strain were imported from the United States under the Poultry and Hatching Eggs (Importation) (Amendment) Order, 1963, to quarantine at private premises in Wales. No cases of Arizona infection have been reported from any other premises to which birds from this importation were distributed. This importation and the transactions relating to it were private and it would be wrong of me to disclose information given in confidence.
§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to check the hatch of turkey poults due to start in November, from eggs, produced by turkeys imported from the United States of America which were in contact with the disease Arizona paracolon; and how many other breeding turkeys, and where, have been in contact with infected stock.
§ Mr. John MackieI understand that all the turkeys from the importation to which the hon. Member refers have now been slaughtered and that none of their eggs are now being incubated. Arizona infection is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Act and I cannot therefore answer the last part of the Question.