§ Lord Beloffasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are planning any change to the level of compensation paid when animals suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy are compulsorily slaughtered.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)The compulsory slaughter of animals suspected of suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy was introduced on 8th August 1988. Under the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order 1988, compensation is paid to the owner of an animal in which infection is confirmed at the rate of one half of its market value, up to 62½ per cent. of the average market price.
We propose to introduce from tomorrow new arrangements for the assessement of compensation for the slaughter of animals in which infection is confirmed. Compensation will be at 100 per cent. of the market value of the animal or the average market price, whichever is the less. There will be no change in the basis of compensation for animals in which disease is not confirmed.