§ Mr. Smithersasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about future policy in regard to fowl pest.
Mr. Amory:Yes. After consulting the main poultry producers' organisations, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to end the restrictions under which live poultry other than day-old chicks and hatching eggs may not be moved into certain scheduled areas in England and Wales from any other part of Great Britain. The necessary Order will be made and brought into force as soon as possible. We shall, in future, impose "standstill" restrictions promptly in the neighbourhood of outbreaks where that appears necessary to prevent the spread or disease. The ban on movements into 149W Scotland from other parts of Great Britain will remain, and there is no intention of changing the slaughter policy for infected and contact birds.