§ 71. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases have been reported during each of the past two years of cattle infected by anthrax; to what extent such cases are considered to have been caused
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§ Sir T. DugdaleThere were 498 outbreaks of fowl pest in 1952 and some 275,000 fowls were involved. I regret that I am unable to say how many of the birds were hens or how many were kept on the battery or free range system, but there is no evidence that outbreaks of fowl pest are more likely to occur where hens are kept on one system rather than on the other.
§ 69. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the large number of hens found diseased by fowl pest, what evidence exists that eggs laid prior to the discovery of the disease or subsequently are unfit for human consumption; and what steps are taken to prevent them being sold in the ordinary market as fresh eggs or used for dried-egg preparation.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI am advised that there is no evidence that the eggs of hens involved in outbreaks of fowl pest are unfit for human consumption, and no steps are taken to prevent their sale for this purpose.