§ Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will estimate the amount which would be required in each of the next three years to purchase at killing-out prices all dairy cattle found to react to the tuberculin test, less the carcase value of such reactors.
Mr. T. WilliamsIf the hon. Member has in mind the testing of all dairy cattle over the next three years and the compulsory slaughter of all reactors, that would not be practicable for several reasons, including the effect on milk supplies and on the dairy farming industry. I have therefore not tried to make an82W estimate; but the difference between killing-out value and carcases value of reactors would be relatively small, since only a small proportion of carcases or parts of carcases would be likely to be condemned.