§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek stronger powers to close poultry markets and to restrict movements of poultry over a wide area as soon as an outbreak of fowl pest occurs in any part of the country.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartNo. To introduce large-scale restrictions of this kind where only isolated cases of the disease occur would increase unnecessarily the problems facing the industry.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will institute inquiries into the possibility of publicising possible outbreaks of fowl pest on farms and taking restrictive measures as soon as an outbreak on a farm is suspected and before it is confirmed so as to ensure that neighbouring farms have the opportunity to take precautions at the earliest possible stage.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartWhen fowl pest is suspected on a farm, the occupier of the premises is prohibited from moving poultry and carcases from the premises unless they are dressed carcases which are not suspected of being diseased. The occupier is also prohibited from moving poultry on to the premises and must prevent access by unauthorised persons. Additional restrictions before the disease is diagnosed are unnecessary. All poultry producers should at all times restrict visitors and take full hygiene precautions to prevent the introduction of disease. Immediately fowl pest is confirmed on a farm, the neighbouring farms are advised by my officers.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to improve the supply of fowl pest vaccine to poultry farmers and institute inquiries into the lengthy delivery time for booster vaccine to farmers in the Nottinghamshire area faced with the current epidemic.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartFollowing discussions between my Department and the 221W manufacturers, the supply of inactivated fowl pest vaccine has been greatly increased since early October. The manufacturers have informed us that they are now producing vaccine at maximum capacity and that, where there are delays in delivery, they are not more than one to two weeks. The supply position is being kept under constant review.