§ Mr ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken by his Department to give farmers information about bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle; and how many animals on average per week are being identified as having it.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonInformation about BSE is available from the Ministry's animal health offices and is also provided by the veterinary officers who inspect each suspected case. In addition, information is disseminated through the farming and general press and media and to the farming unions and other farming organisations. On average, 140 to 150 cases are confirmed by post mortem examination each week.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the procedures for determining whether cattle submitted for compensation under the bovine spongiform encephalopathy notification scheme are genuine suspected cases;
(2) what information he has concerning the number of cattle submitted as bovine spongiform encephalopathy suspect by their owners but not subsequently accepted as suspect for compensation purposes by ante-mortem veterinary inspection;
(3) what is the total number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy compensation claims submitted to his Department to date; what proportion of claims submitted have been met at (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 50 per cent. of the value of the animal; and what veterinary ante-mortem inspection takes place of cattle that are submitted under the notification procedure for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonIt is a legal requirement for any owner or person in charge of an animal he suspects may have bovine spongiform encephalopathy to notify the divisional veterinary officer. The case is investigated and if BSE is suspected a restriction notice served confining the animal to the farm. A number of inspections may be necessary before the Ministry veterinary officer is able to decide whether the cause is BSE. If he is able to eliminate BSE as the cause restrictions are lifted. However if he is convinced that the animal is affected with BSE it is compulsorily slaughtered, the head removed so that the brain can be examined for definitive diagnosis and the carcase either incinerated or buried. Once slaughtered an automatic payment of 50 per cent. (up to a ceiling) of the valuation, undertaken when the animal was first put under restriction, is made. If BSE is not confirmed following examination of the brain the remaining 50 per cent. is paid.
The numbers of cattle put under restriction in the period 8 August 1988 (when the slaughter policy was introduced) to 5 May 1989 are as follows:
569W
Number Restrictions imposed on suspect cases 4,794 Restrictions lifted because of alternative diagnosis 214 Suspect cases slaughtered 4,101 Suspect cases still under restriction 479 Of suspect cases slaughtered: positive cases 3,351 negative cases 329 Results pending 421
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 April,Official Report, column 748, on what dates and in respect of which period of time these cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle were reported to him;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 14 April, Official Report, column 748, what information his Department presented concerning the incidence and location of confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection in cattle at slaughterhouses or fatstock markets.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe period of time concerned was provided in the answer given to the hon. Member on 14 April, at column748. The additional information requested is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now taking and whether he intends in the near future to take any steps to monitor cattle at non-EEC export approved slaughterhouses for bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe law requires any person who suspects bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an animal under his charge to notify the Ministry. This includes suspect BSE cases identified at slaughterhouses, details of which are being monitored.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all species of animals known by his Department to have been infected by transmittable spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 9 March at column621. BSE has also been transmitted into mice experimentally.