HC Deb 08 February 1990 vol 166 cc726-7W
16. Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the level of compensation to farmers for the slaughter of cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Maclean

I keep all aspects of my policy to deal with this disease under continuous reveiw.

33. Mr. Tredinnick

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received recently concerning mad cow disease; whether he is contemplating any further action; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

I have received a variety of representations about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Government have introduced a comprehensive package of measures to tackle the disease and to eliminate the remote risk to public health.

54. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress of research into the vertical transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Maclean

A research programme, costing about £5 million, is in hand to determine whether maternal transmission of BSE occurs. However, because of the long incubation period, results may not be available for several years.

58. Mr. Key

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about bovine spongiform encephalopathy containment measures and associated compensation arrangements.

Mr. Maclean

The probable cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was through the feeding of ruminant-derived protein. This practice was banned from July 1988. In addition, from August 1988 all cattle suspected of having BSE have been compulsorily slaughtered and their carcases burned or buried. The owners are compensated for the loss of animals at 50 per cent. of the value for cases confirmed on post mortem as BSE-infected and at 100 per cent. of the value where BSE is not confirmed.

However, the compensation element is not the mechanism designed to contain BSE or to prevent it becoming a risk to human health. The slaughter policy and removal of specific offals from all bovine animals does that.

66. Mr. Boswell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Maclean

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 January at columns572–73.

75. Mr. Alton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cows have died or been destroyed as a result of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Maclean

From the introduction of the compulsory slaughter policy on 8 August 1988 to 31 December 1989, a total of 9,884 suspected cases of BSE were slaughtered in Great Britain.

Mr. Skinner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any further plans to discuss with agricultural interests the subject of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

I and my officials have frequent discussions on a variety of subjects, including BSE, with groups representing agricultural and food interests.