§ Lord KILMANYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their attention has been drawn to the large number of horses that die annually from the disease of grass sickness; that the majority of these deaths occur in Scotland; and 870WA whether current figures show that losses are increasing or being reduced from year to year.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (The Earl of Mansfield)As grass sickness is not a notifiable disease, there are no reliable statistics of its incidence, though it is known to have been present in Great Britain—and particularly in Scotland—for over 60 years. The Animal Diseases Research Association, Edinburgh, is continuing its research into grass sickness, the cause of which is unknown. A survey carried out by the Association in 1971–74 in the East of Scotland indicated that about 1 per cent. of horses in that area contracted and died from the disease. There is no indication that the incidence has changed significantly since the survey.