§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his policy in the near future to introduce a compensation scheme for ridding the country of brucellosis-affected cattle.
§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will pay the brucellosis incentives awarded to accredited owners in the Price Review; and when he will start a programme of compulsory area eradication.
§ Mr. PriorThe voluntary Brucellosis Incentives Scheme will be open from today, both to new applicants and to owners of herds already accredited. The necessary statutory Payment Orders are being made; and all incentive premiums due to accredited owners concerned will be paid as soon as possible. I am placing 143W copies of the Scheme Prospectus in the Library of the House.
The Secretary of State and I are grateful to the Milk Marketing Boards, the British Veterinary Association, and the insurance companies concerned for their co-operation in enabling this Scheme to be launched quickly and operated economically; and for the support of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for making an Order, under section 19(4)(e) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, to enable trained lay staff, working under veterinary supervision, to assist in the extensive blood sampling programmes that lie ahead.
The Government are relying upon owners of clean or relatively clean herds to come forward for early accreditation under the new Scheme. This will provide the industry with the replacements needed for compulsory area eradication. We shall make a worthwhile start on area eradication next year and will be announcing the first areas in the early Spring. The Government are determined to press on with all speed.
The areas will be chosen after consultation with the industry in the light of the response to the Incentives Scheme and the degree of infection. We shall also discuss with the industry the terms for incentive premiums and the flat-rate headage payment for reactors under the
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References at present under consideration by the NBPI Reference made by Overtime and Shift Working Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity Pay and other terms and conditions of employment of workers in the Pottery Industry Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity Coal Prices Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Technology Bread Prices and Pay in the Baking Industry Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Costs and Prices in the Gas Industry Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Technology Pay in the Water Supply Industry Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, Secretary of State for Scotland and Minister of Housing and Local Government Pay and other terms and conditions of employment in the fletton brick industry and the prices charged by the London Brick Company Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Public Building and Works Costs and Revenue of Independent Television Companies Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Tea Prices Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The Pay and Conditions of Workers in Contract Cleaning Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity The Pay and Conditions of Service of Workers in Laundries and Dry Cleaning Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity The Pay and Conditions of Service of N.H.S. Ancillary Workers. Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, Secretary of State for Social Services, Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales compulsory scheme. We want to establish terms which will encourage owners of clean or relatively clean herds to seek early voluntary accreditation rather than awaiting compulsory measures.