HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 c315W
Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in theOfficial Report the criteria for defining a bovine spongiform encephalopathy-free herd.

Mr. Curry

There is no official definition of a bovine spongiform encephalopathy-free herd.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in theOfficial Report the representatives of the National Farmers Union and the Scottish National Farmers Union with whom he met prior to the implementation on 30 July of new European Community animal health rules on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Curry

My officials met representatives from the National Farmers Union and a number of other organisations on 27 July to discuss implementation of Commission decision 89/469. The Scottish National Farmers Union, although invited, was not represented. The composition of the delegations attending such meetings is a matter for the organisations concerned.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total money being spent by Government-funded institutions on research into the effects of bovine spongiform encephalopathy on(a) the hereditary chain and (b) the food chain.

Mr. Curry

It is estimated that Government-funded institutions will spend over £2 million on research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 1989–90, including some in relation to the hereditary and food chains.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many live cattle have been declared as unfit for export following upon the implementation on 30 July of new European Community animal health rules on bovine spongiform encephalopathy;

(2) how many live cattle, already cleared for export, were returned from exit ports to the farms of origin, as a result of the implementation on 30 July of new European Community animal health rules on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Curry

I have received no reports of cattle, presented for export following implementation of Commission decision 89/469 on 30 July, being declared unfit for export to other member states because they failed to meet the certification requirements of that decision in relation to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. However, several export consignments had to be rejected before 30 July because the Republic of Ireland unilaterally imposed import restrictions on 25 July. I have no information about the number of live cattle involved.