HC Deb 26 June 1952 vol 502 cc204-6W
69. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will appoint a Departmental committee to review the measures taken to combat foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, in the light of recent scientific knowledge and the administrative experience of the 1951–52 outbreaks.

Sir T. Dugdale

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for this suggestion. I have asked the Agricultural Improvement Council to advise me regularly on foot-and-mouth disease policy, and I reported to the House on 12th June the result of their first consideration of this matter. I have the fullest confidence in the Council's advice and in the ability of the veterinary service to deal with the disease.

Nevertheless, I agree that it will be desirable to hold a special inquiry and when the present epidemic has abated, and the officers of my Department who would be concerned are less heavily engaged I then intend to appoint a Departmental Committee with suitable terms of reference.

70. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, for the period of the last 20 years, the cost of compensation paid on account of stock slaughtered in foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Great Britain; and the cost of administration, as a percentage, of the total value of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats in the country, to show the amount of the premium involved in ensuring that foot-and-mouth disease does not become endemic in this country.

Sir T. Dugdale

The total amount of compensation paid in the years 1932–1951 was £4,047,000. Figures for the value of livestock in Great Britain for each of the past 20 years and the total cost of administration are not available, but on the basis of what are uncertain but probably conservative estimates of the total value of livestock the average compensation paid during the past 10 years for stock slaughtered as a result of foot-and-mouth disease is approximately equivalent to 1s. 6d. for each £100 of stock.

72. Mr. Speir

asked the Minister of Agriculture what vaccines or methods to combat foot-and-mouth disease have been tested at the Ministry's Research Department at Pirbright; and whether, in view of the evidence of their proven effectiveness, the antigens prepared by a gentleman, whose name has been supplied to him, have been included in the tests; and with what result.

Sir T. Dugdale

A list of all the vaccines and methods of combating the disease that have been tested by the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Institute would be very long. The Institute is in close touch with similar stations throughout the world, and all new vaccines and methods whose claims are based on experimental evidence are investigated.

The claims of the gentleman referred to were tested at Pirbright in 1939, on lines previously agreed by him, and with his co-operation. In the opinion of the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Committee the test conclusively disproved those claims. Since that test no further evidence has been supplied to my Department by the gentleman in question, and no further tests have been made.

73. Mr. Peart

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his Department will initiate discussions to obtain agreed action by European countries against foot-and-mouth disease.

75. Mr. Deedes

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider calling a conference of Ministers of Agriculture and advisers in Western Europe to discuss the wider implications of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Sir T. Dugdale

The technical advisers of my Department and those of other countries have already discussed, under the auspices of certain international organisations, the measures necessary for the control of foot-and-mouth disease in Western Europe. Recommendations have been made to the Governments concerned, and I do not think that there would be any advantage in calling a conference of Ministers of Agriculture at this stage.

74. Mr. Deedes

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulties anticipated in sheep and lamb sales in Kent later this year due to restricted movement imposed by continuous foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, he will consult the appropriate authorities on what road and rail vehicles might be made available for the hygienic transport of livestock out of infected areas.

Sir T. Dugdale

Officers of my Department are discussing the effect of foot-and-mouth disease regulations on the seasonal movements of sheep in Kent with representatives of the Kent Branch of the National Farmers' Union on Monday next. I will consider what further action is required after receiving a report of this meeting.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Food what has been the value of the meat provided by the slaughter of animals not infected with the disease but which have been ordered to be slaughtered by the veterinary officers of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Major Lloyd George

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 23rd June, so far as the first quarter of 1952 is concerned. In the last quarter of 1951 meat and offal were saved for human consumption to the value of £51,100 from 1,994 cattle, £1,381 from 407 calves, £7,901 from 2,011 sheep and £10,568 from 1,494 pigs.