§ Mr. John MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the storage of live Canadian lobsters in sea tanks in Scotland poses no threat of gaffkaemia infection to the native stock in adjacent waters.
§ Mr. YoungerOn the basis of the scientific advice available to me, there is some risk of gaffkaemia being transferred to native lobsters from imported stock suffering from that disease. My right hon. Friend and I are considering what steps should be taken to reduce any threat to native lobster stocks.
§ Mr. John MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of imported live Canadian lobsters in Scotland are at present estimated to be suffering from gaffkaemia.
§ Mr. YoungerI know of only one Scottish-based merchant who has imported—on two occasions—lobsters from Canada. On the basis of tests carried out earlier this year, the incidence of gaffkaemia in a specimen taken from one of these consignments was 13 per cent.