§ Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his veterinary service is proposing to carry out experiments with Blue Tongue at Pirbright.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThe Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright is not operated by my veterinary staff. Oversight of the Institute's research programme is a matter for the Agricultural Research Council; but my consent, and that of the Secretary of State for Scotland, is required before the Institute starts fresh work in this country on viruses capable of setting up infectious diseases in animals.
Blue Tongue disease has never occurred in this country. My right hon. Friend and I have informed the Agricultural Research Council and the Institute that we are not prepared to expose the livestock industry to the risk of introducing the virus into this country, even for research purposes.