§ 31. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to take to contain the spread of tuberculosis in farmed and wild deer.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI announced my proposals for the control of tuberculosis in farmed deer on 15 December 1988Official Report, columns 674–75. Urgent consideration is now being given to the comments made on the proposals by interested organisations. I have no plans to introduce measures for wild deer.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of the last five years how many cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed in persons engaged in working with farmed deer in the United Kingdom; and whether any such cases have been confirmed as originating from deer.
§ Mr. NichollsI have been asked to reply. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, employers are required to report cases of tuberculosis among their employees if the employees in question work with persons or animals or with human or animal remains or with any other material which might be a source of infection. Since the regulations came into operation in April 1986 one case of tuberculosis in a person working with farmed deer has recently been356W reported, but this case has not been confirmed. I regret that comparable information for previous years is not available.