§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress has been made with a scheme for dealing with Aujeszky's disease;
(2) how many outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease occurred in the last six months in the south of England; and what steps have been taken to contain the infection;
(3) if he will outline methods employed in European Economic Community countries to deal with Aujeszky's disease.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerFollowing discussions with the industry, agreement in principle was reached on arrangements to introduce movement controls on holdings where the disease is found to be present, and upon fattening units taking pigs from such holdings. We intend to provide for these arrangements to be implemented in subordinate legislation as soon as possible. In the meantime we have established a system under which local interests will be notified of outbreaks.
One outbreak of the disease has been confirmed in the south of the country, in Somerset, during the last six months in a fattening herd from which all pigs go direct for slaughter. Under established arrangements advice has been provided on precautions to prevent spread of the disease.
None of the other countries in the European Community has undertaken a national eradication policy. A variety of steps are taken by members of the Community with the majority authorising the use of vaccines. In addition, most countries take normal precautions to deal with sick or dead animals.