Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there has been any recent increase in the incidence of liver fluke amongst sheep and cattle in Wales; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient precautions are being taken to control this disease.
§ Mr. Godber:The incidence of liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle varies greatly, increasing in wet summers and falling again with a dry season. The succession of wet summers in Wales in recent years has resulted in an increase of the disease there. Experience shows that 69W after an outbreak of acute liver fluke disease, farmers take the precautions recommended by my Department, but tend to relax their vigilance once the disease position appears to have improved.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a leaflet on the subject prepared by my Department.