HC Deb 19 June 1990 vol 174 cc529-30W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is a feral wild population of mink on the Isle of Wight.

Mr. Maclean

There have been reports of feral mink on the Isle of Wight, but none confirmed.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to which species of native fauna aleutian disease may be transmitted by mink.

Mr. Maclean

I am not in a position to confirm the native fauna to which aleutian disease can definitely be transmitted from mink. However I am aware that the disease has been found in ferrets and polecats and that a disease similar to aleutian disease has been observed in otters.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his officials take once aleutian disease is discovered in mink on farms.

Mr. Maclean

No statutory action is taken once the disease is discovered in mink on farms.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of mink in farms are infected with aleutian disease; and how many farms this affects.

Mr. Maclean

Since aleutian disease in minks is not a notifiable disease, no official statistics are available on its incidence in mink farms.

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