Foot-and-mouth Disease

HC Deb 26 November 1975 vol 901 cc161-2W

Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed in England, Scotland and Wales respectively during 1953 to 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Strang

Between 1953 and 1968 the number of outbreaks were:

England	2,805
Wales	496
Scotland	105
Total	3,406

No outbreaks have occurred since June 1968. This is the longest period of freedom from foot-and-mouth disease this century, and is mainly attributable to the change in meat import policy introduced in December 1967, when imports of mutton, lamb and pig meat from countries where the disease was endemic were banned. This ban was extended in 1968, on the recommendation of the Northumberland Committee, to imports of beef other than boned-out beef from those countries. Our defences against the disease have also been reinforced by the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973 under which the regulations governing the use of waste food as animal feed have been made more stringent.