§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department is sponsoring research into the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle which consumed, as calves, infected animal feed as part of a herd of which other members have subsequently been confirmed as bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonYes, as part of the epidemiological study being carried out by the Ministry's central veterinary laboratory.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether heat treatment of 80°C for 30 minutes is proven to be sufficient to inactivate the infective agent responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonInactivation experiments are being considered by the Tyrrell committee.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the age of the youngest bovine confirmed as suffering bovine spongiform encepalophathy in 1988.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonTwo years, eight months.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to record the movements of the offspring of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22 May, at column375. Record keeping is also required under the Movement of Animals (Records) Order 1960.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the age of the youngest bovine to be confirmed as suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy to date.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonTwo years, four months.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department has taken to identify those suppliers of ruminant-based protein for cattle rations whose supplies were originally responsible for the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonEpidemiological studies into the cause of BSE indicate that it was not due to a few specific sources or suppliers.