§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that medical officers of health have no authority to prevent the sale of dairy cattle known to be carriers of brucellosis; and if he will introduce legislation to 397W remedy this and to offer proper compensation to farmers who dispose for slaughter cattle which might otherwise endanger public health.
§ Mr. RossIt is not possible at present to forecast when we shall reach the stage of compulsory eradication or to say how many years it will take before the disease can be regarded as no longer a problem.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of brucellosis have been reported among humans in each of the past five years; if he is satisfied with the procedure for assessing the incidence of this disease; and if he will initiate a survey to determine this incidence accurately.
§ Mr. Ross188 cases of brucellosis were diagnosed by laboratory methods among humans in Scotland between 28th January and 30th December, 1967. Comparable figures for earlier periods are not available. I believe that generally procedures for assessing the incidence of the disease are adequate and I do not consider that a special survey is needed.