§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will forthwith ban the use in compound feedingstuffs of imported bone and meat meal; and if he will temporarily direct that the firm, whose name has been sent to him by the hon. Member for North Cornwall, be suspended from supplying compounds to the farming industry.
§ Mr. George MackieNo. My right hon. Friend would not be justified in seeking powers either to impose a general ban or to suspend the activities of a particular supplier. Although outbreaks of anthrax are most commonly linked with imported bone products, the great majority of imported supplies cause no trouble. As indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on 4th December, we are considering whether there is justification for additional control over imported bones.