§ Mr. Bishopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider his policy not to provide compensation and bridging aid to farmers who have incurred substantial losses due to fowlpest, in view of the spread of the disease.
§ Mr. PriorNo. Farmers who need bridging aid should look to their banks in the normal way. While I sympathise with those who have incurred losses, the provision of compensation or other Government aid would only reduce the incentive to achieve a high level of vaccination which is essential to effective control of the disease.