§ Mr. Corrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer on 4 July, Official Report, c. 48, stating that it is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to publish details of premises affected by any animal, poultry or bird disease, why he published on 6 July, Official Report, c. 126, a list of fish farms affected by whirling disease.
§ Mrs. FennerIt is a requirement of the Diseases of Fish Regulations 1937 that infected area orders must be publicised in theLondon Gazette. For the purpose of the regulations an infected area is the place where the fish disease exists. In the circumstances, it was reasonable to provide details in the Official Report of 6 July. On the other hand, it is established practice under animal health rules not to publish precise details of affected premises, not least because that would constitute a disincentive to report disease.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savour) on 4 July, Official Report, c. 48, why details of premises affected by any animal, poultry and bird disease are not published.
§ Mrs. FennerIt is not the practice to give precise details of outbreaks of animal, poultry and bird diseases for a number of reasons. In particular, such publicity would be a considerable disincentive in reporting suspected disease.
As indicated in the reply to the hon. member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 13 July—[Vol. 20, c.347] — information about the counties in which suspected outbreaks occur is, as a temporary measure, being placed in the Library of the House.