§ 47. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 107 outbreaks of fowl pest during May were in flocks which had not been vaccinated; how many birds were 89W involved; what was their estimated value; and what proportion of flocks in the country are now being regularly vaccinated.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThese outbreaks involved some 665,000 birds altogether. Forty-eight were in non-vaccinated flocks and 21 in part-vaccinated flocks, affecting 48,000 and 82,000 birds, respectively. I have no information as to the value of these birds.
114 million doses of subsidised vaccine have been sold since the scheme began. Taking into account the turnover of poultry during that period, this is enough to have treated about 60 per cent. of the birds that should have been vaccinated. But I am glad to say that the corresponding figure for the last 3 months is 80 per cent. This is a big improvement on the figures which my right hon. Friend gave the House on 27th March, but it is vital that sales should at least be maintained at the present level.