HC Deb 17 June 1992 vol 209 cc572-3W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will now review his policy about not slaughtering the offspring of BSE-infected cattle;

(2) if he will make available in the Library the results of the research funded by his Ministry into the genetic link with BSE conducted by Dr. Wijeratne and that carried out by his Central Veterinary Laboratory into the same topic; and whether he will convene the Tyrrell committee to assess the findings of this research.

Mr. Gummer

The work by Dr. Wijeratne and colleagues into a genetic susceptibility to BSE is not complete. When it is, the outcome will be published without delay.

The Tyrrell committee is well aware of this research and of progress on it. Preliminary results so far show only that in one breed there appear to be some cows with an inherited increased susceptibility to BSE. This does not mean that BSE is a genetic disease. In addition, increased susceptibility is irrelevant if an animal is not exposed to infection.

The Government's policy of slaughtering affected animals and banning the feeding of ruminant derived protein is already designed to ensure that cattle are not exposed to the source of infection. All the evidence indicates that other possible sources of infection, particularly maternal or horizontal infection, will have little or no effect on the epidemic. There is therefore no justification for a calf slaughter policy or further control measures.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times the Tyrrell committee has met each year since 1989.

Mr. Gummer

Seven times in 1990, six in 1991 and on three occasions so far this year.