§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he can yet add to his statement of 5th May 1977 on an eradication scheme for warble fly.
§ Mr. StrangWe intend to start this summer on a five-year campaign to eradicate the warble fly in Great Britain. Consultations on our proposals will be held in the near future with the interests concerned. In essence, the proposals are, first, by widespread information and advice to persuade all owners with cattle at risk from the fly to treat them each autumn—the time when the grubs can be killed before they do any damage; and, secondly, to require by law the treatment of any cattle showing signs of infestation in the following spring. By this combination of exhortation and compulsion, we aim to help the livestock industry to reduce the incidence of warble fly to such a low level that final eradication514W measures can be put in hand in1982. I believe that the proposals will command wide support.