§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of a growing incidence of sway-back; what has been the pattern of this disease in recent years; what studies in relation to it are being conducted by the Agricultural Research Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangEvidence from blood samples submitted to Ministry veterinary laboratories indicates an increased incidence of swayback in recent years and that the condition is now occurring in some areas which were previously free. This was expected because of our freedom from snow in the last few years. There is no inherent change in the pattern of the disease. Much is already known about the causes of this disease, the way it develops and the methods of prevention. Research on related questions is, however, being continued by the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, and commissioned with the Agricultural Research Council.