§ 91. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress made in combating the fowl pest epidemic in the country as a whole and in Lincolnshire and the adjoining counties in particular.
97 and 98. Sir A. Hurd asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the present fowl pest epidemic, the number of poultry destroyed, and the compensation paid from public funds;
(2) the results of his further inquiries into the origin of the widespread fowl pest infection this year; and what further measures are proposed to check the introduction of infection from abroad.
§ Mr. John HareFowl pest infected areas have been declared in and around Gloucestershire, the North-East Midlands and East Anglia. The position has improved recently in Gloucestershire, and the area has been contracted. Many outbreaks of disease have continued to occur in Norfolk, Suffolk and other parts of East Anglia. The situation in Lincolnshire is showing signs of improvement but there is still cause for concern in some adjoining counties, especially Nottinghamshire, Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Ely. Since the beginning of October, about 2,300,000 birds have been destroyed at a cost to the Exchequer of about£1,750,000.
We do not know precisely what has caused the epidemic, but intensive methods of production clearly accentuate the risk of spread of infection.
In the interests of the industry generally, it is the responsibility of all 105W poultry keepers and distributors to manage their undertakings in such a way that the risk of introducing and spreading infection is kept at a minimum. I am not contemplating any change in the regulations which already prohibit the import of poultry and hatching eggs from countries where fowl pest exists.