§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of cattle in Scotland which(a) would be targeted for selective slaughter (b) would have qualified for selective slaughter and were slaughtered under the 30-month scheme; and if he will make a statement. [7193]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonIn May this year, the Central Veterinary Laboratory estimated that a selective cull might involve a maximum of some 127,000 cohort animals present on farms in Great Britain, of which some 4,300 might be in Scotland. The CVL has not calculated the overall effect of the over 30-month scheme, but it is reasonable to assume that a significant proportion of the cull animals have already been slaughtered.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cattle have been slaughtered in Scotland as part of the Government's culling programme; and if he will make a statement. [7192]
§ Mr. RobertsonTo 29 November 1996 some 144,200 cattle have been processed in Scotland through the over-30-month scheme. The operation of the scheme in Scotland has been greatly assisted by a high level of co-operation across all sectors of the industry.