§ 35. Mr. Bullardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will amend the rules governing the payment of compensation in connection with fowl pest outbreaks so as to prohibit the restocking of infected premises for at least six months.
Mr. VaneNo. Under the existing regulations the restocking of premises infected with fowl pest is prohibited for six weeks after slaughter or four weeks after the completion of disinfection, whichever is the earlier. I am advised that this period is sufficient to ensure that any virus present will have been rendered inactive by the disinfection processes. No compensation is paid for the unproductive period, and to extend it to six months would impose an unreasonable burden on poultry-keepers.