§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has undertaken tests at the Houghton Poultry Research Station, or elsewhere, on chicken carcases or eggs to establish the presence of any viruses, and with what result.
§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughes:In the course of investigating disease problems, some thousands of virological investigations on chicken carcases are undertaken by the Ministry each year. The annual Report on the Animal Health Services in Great Britain summarises the main results of this work. Such investigations would not normally be carried out on eggs. The Ministry undertakes these investigations in its own laboratories and does not use the services of the Houghton Poultry Research Station, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.