§ 44. Mr. ClellandTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline his plans for the future of research into bovine somatatropin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonMy Department's programmes of research are kept under continuous review and this includes the need for research into bovine somatotropin, particularly in respect of public interest issues such as animal welfare.
Most research into bovine somatotropin is undertaken or commissioned by the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. My Department has been funding a small study on dairy cow nutrition in which bovine somatotropin has featured and this is part of the work offered for industry funding following the review of near market R and D.