HC Deb 19 March 1979 vol 964 cc408-9W
Mr. Gould

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government propose to take in the light of the spread of enzootic bovine leukosis.

Mr. Strang

Some 20,000 animals were tested and that number included one-quarter or more of each breed imported since 1968. Nearly 500 reactors were found in 68 dairy herds and one beef herd, and it is clear that the testing of the entire national herd would be necessary to find the extent of the infection.

The Government concluded from these results that the most appropriate course, having regard to the nature of the disease and to the availability of resources, was to introduce a scheme for the voluntary establishment of enzootic bovine leukosis-free herds in Great Britain.

Following consultations with the farmers' unions, breed societies and other interested organisations, we have decided that before a herd could be registered as EBL-free, two serological tests of the herd should be undertaken with negative results. The first of these will be at the expense of the herd owner.

Compensation for slaughter of reactors would be payable up to a maximum of £567 as in the Brucellosis (Accredited Herds) Scheme for cattle reacting to the second (official) test. After entry to the scheme, compensation would not be payable for reactors found at subsequent routine tests. We would expect owners to insure against such losses.

The scheme embodying these proposals will now be published as soon as possible and I shall place a copy in the Library of the House. The scheme will operate from 1 August 1979.

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