§ 105. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. PeartYes. The number of outbreaks now is 773. The number of animals slaughtered is approximately 69,000 cattle, 32,000 sheep and 38,000 pigs. This is now the worst epidemic this century in terms of numbers of animals slaughtered.
Since I made a statement to the House on 20th November in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) an outbreak of the disease has occurred in Northamptonshire in addition to counties where there have already been outbreaks. Further race meetings have been cancelled to avoid the risk of spreading the disease. I have made an Order prohibiting farmers from bringing animals back to their farms from fatstock markets. I have obtained 360W all possible publicity to advise farmers and the public about measures to be taken to combat the disease. I shall myself be visiting the foot-and-mouth control centre at Oswestry on Friday.