§ 43. Mr. Pattieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the findings of an Australian research team that sheep can be successfully fed on a diet consisting of 60 per cent. of old Government documents, he has any plans to use this method of recycling paper.
§ Mr. BishopInvestigations into the feeding of ruminants with waste paper have been conducted here as well as in other countries including Australia. They have shown that whilst waste paper can be of some limited use as a source of energy its nutritional value is very variable and, because of its unpredictable effects on the animals, farmers cannot be recommended to use it for feed.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of sheep scab were confirmed in Great Britain in 1974 and corresponding figures for the last 10 years.
§ Mr. StrangDuring 1974, 17 outbreaks of sheep scab were confirmed in Great Britain. These appear to have been linked with the 42 outbreaks confirmed in 1973. No other outbreaks occurred in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce compulsory dipping of sheep in Wales.
§ Mr. StrangAll outbreaks of sheep scab in Wales have been on enclosed land, and general compulsory dipping throughout Wales has not been considered necessary. Individual dipping notices have been served on the infected farms and on all premises containing sheep in the vicinity of those farms.