HC Deb 04 June 1996 vol 278 cc430-1W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the latest statistics available to him of the number of steers infected by BSE in England and Wales. [25576]

Mrs. Browning

Since 1986 and up to 2 May 1996, the number of steers confirmed as suffering from BSE in England and Wales is 21.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the incidence of BSE in other member states of the European Union. [27876]

Mrs. Browning

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) and for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 29 April 1996,Official Report, column 408.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of BSE there have been in the United Kingdom and in each other European

Summary of BSE cases in UK and other European countries as at 10 May 1996
Country 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Denmark1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
France 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 3 3 8
Germany1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0
Ireland 0 0 0 15 14 17 18 16 19 16 9
Italy1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Portugal 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 12 14 5
Switzerland 0 0 0 0 1 9 15 28 64 69 28
United Kingdom 7 439 2,228 7,230 14,394 25,358 37,238 35,119 24,455 14,323 1,832
1 Cases recorded all in cattle imported from UK. With the exception of the UK and Swiss figures, all figures are based on figures reported to the OIE which may not always be accurate. Statistics given for European countries other than UK should be used as guide only.

Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure prompt payment of claims for compensation from cattle head deboners who had stocks of meat in store at the time when the ban on cattle head products for human consumption was announced. [31136]

Mr. Baldry

Cattle head deboners whose businesses are licensed under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 can apply for financial assistance under the beef stocks transfer scheme which is operated by the Intervention Board executive agency on behalf of the agriculture Departments. The IBEA aims to make payments under this scheme as soon as possible, and in any case within 28 days of the receipt of the necessary verification documentation.