§ 19. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that eggs or their packaging imported into Britain might be carriers of foot and mouth disease; and, if there is evidence, if he will take action on the matter.
§ Mr. WigginI am satisfied that the stringent control measures applied when foot and mouth disease occurs in the exporting countries, such as France, are adequate to minimise the risk of transferring the disease in this way.
§ 22. Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the present position of the foot and mouth outbreak centered on the Isle of Wight.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe disease was confined to the single outbreak in the Isle of Wight, and all the elated infected area restrictions, both on the island and on the mainland, have now been lifted. The veterinary service will, of course, continue to exercise vigilance and will follow up immediately any reports of suspected foot and mouth disease.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will undertake an investigation into the risk of foot and mouth disease created by the return to the United Kingdom of livestock lorries from the Continent; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if, following the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease, he will ensure that the procedures regulating the cleansing and disinfecting of livestock lorries returning to the United Kingdom from the Continent are adequate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI am satisfied that the procedures for the disinfection, on entry into this country, of lorries which have contained livestock are effective in minimising the risk of importing foot and mouth disease by that means. The enforcement authorities, particularly along the South Coast, are fully alert to the need for vigilance.