§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to conclude his review of a possible vaccination programme against the spread of paramyxovirus in pigeons.
§ Mrs. FennerDecisions about permitting the use of vaccine in racing pigeons will be taken in the light of developments, and will depend upon the veterinary assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of such a course of action.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to the reply on 30 June, Official Report, c. 684–5, if he will publish in the Official Report such information he has as to the kind of tests carried out on racing pigeons in Belgium, Holland, France and Germany which established the existence of a paramyxovirus associated with Newcastle disease.
§ Mrs. FennerOur information is that tests were used in all the countries mentioned to establish the existence of paramyxovirus in racing pigeons. The virus isolates are classified in the paramyxovirus 1 group by the haemagglutination inhibition test and serum neutralisation test.
Experimental infection of pigeons with the viruses isolated from affected pigeons have reproduced the disease in Holland.