§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what researches are at present being conducted into the prevention and cure of transmissible gastro-enteritis in pigs.
§ Mr. MackieResearch programmes into transmissible gastro-enteritis are continuing at the Ministry's Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, and at the Agricultural Research Council's Institute for Research on Animal Diseases, Compton, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. The work is principally in the fields of pathology, epidemiology and immunology and includes research into the development of methods of vaccination.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent on research into transmissible gastro-enteritis in pigs in 1968–69 and 1969–70; and what sum has been allocated for such research in 1970–71.
§ Mr. MackieExpenditure on research into transmissible gastro-enteritis is estimated at about £8,000 in 1968–69 and £9,000 in 1969–70, excluding the cost of work outside the main centres, for which it would be impracticable to make an estimate. Funds are not allocated specifically for individual research programmes but expenditure is expected to be of a similar order in 1970–71.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make transmissible gastro-enteritis in pigs a notifiable disease.
§ Mr. MackieTransmissible gastroenteritis does not lend itself to compulsory notification because of our lack of knowledge relating to its epidemiology and the consequent difficulty of devising effective control measures. However, we 305W have arranged to receive reports of outbreaks so enabling us to observe the incidence of the disease.