§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm holdings in the United Kingdom have been affected by mycoplasma bovis before and after the introduction of the single market in each year since 1990; how many cattle are currently infected; how and when the disease was introduced into the United Kingdom; and from where it came.
817W
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardMycoplasma bovis was first recorded in the United Kingdom in 1975. It is not a notifiable disease and comprehensive data is not maintained. There are no records of the total numbers of infected animals. The numbers of cases recorded by the veterinary investigation laboratories in the United Kingdom for the years concerned are:
Year Farms 1990 61 1991 56 1992 36 1993 29
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which EU member states mycoplasma bovis is a notifiable disease.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardMycoplasma bovis is not a notifiable disease under EC legislation. We have no information on whether member states require notification under their own national legislation.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government are taking to combat mycoplasma bovis.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere are no statutory powers in respect of mycoplasma bovis.