§ Mr. Roperasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a more rigorous procedure for examining and dipping all sheep brought into the United Kingdom following the outbreak of sheep scab at Boothstown, near Worsley.
§ Mrs. FennerWhen inquiries into the source of the present series of outbreaks of sheep scab are completed, my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, will consider whether the present procedures for examining and dipping sheep imported into Great Britain provide adequate animal health safeguards especially in connection with imports from countries where sheep scab occurs.
§ Mr. Roperasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider reintroducing compulsory dipping of sheep following the outbreak of sheep scab at a farm at Boothstown, near Worsley.
§ Mrs. FennerIt would be premature at this stage to consider the reintroduction by local authorities of regulations requiring the periodic dipping of sheep in wide areas of the country. The recent outbreaks of sheep scab have been mainly confined to an area on the borders of Lancashire and the West Riding and all infected premises and premises in which there are contact sheep have been placed under restriction and dipping by individual notice will be required as necessary. In order to ensure that the disease does not spread further a large area of Lancashire and the West Riding has been
90W
UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF APPLES (OTHER THAN CIDER APPLES) '000 tons Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1971 … 22.5 19.0 30.1 43.8 53.5 40.6 18.9 1.6 6.1 2.7 3.0 3.9 1972 … 19.9 18.0 37.0 48.2 65.5 37.2 11.5 4.5 5.7 5.9 2.6 * * Not yet available. declared a movement area and sheep may not be moved out except for slaughter unless they have been dipped in an approved "single dip" type dip. My right hon. Friend will consider whether to declare part or all of the area to be a dipping area when further investigation has been completed.