HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc651-2W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of sheep scab there were in each year since 1990 and in each month for 1994.

Sir Hector Monro

Official records on the number of sheep scab cases in Scotland are not available for the period following the deregulation of compulsory controls in 1992. The number of confirmed cases in the preceding three years were as follows:

  • 1990: 4
  • 1991: 5
  • 1992 (to 30 June): 17

In the early part of last year, industry reports suggested a growing incidence of sheep scab throughout Great Britain and a surveillance exercise was carried out at sales and markets during the spring of 1994. In Scotland, this showed that sheep scab was present throughout the country, although the incidence related to flock numbers was relatively low.

The Government carried out an extensive poster and leaflet campaign in the autumn of 1994 to urge farmers to dip their sheep and to remind them of their welfare responsibilities. Surveillance at markets was also stepped up and a further survey of the incidence of the disease will be made in spring 1995.