§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to an outbreak of redmouth disease in trout farms in England; whether this fish disease is due to imported eggs; how widespread it is; what steps are being taken to control it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorI am aware that the fish disease known as enteric redmouth disease has been identified at 139W a number of trout farms in England, although I do not have information on the extent to which it is present in this country. My fish disease scientists have no evidence that the disease has been introduced through imported eggs. The disease is not notifiable under the Diseases of Fish Act 1937 and I have received no proposals for it to be added to the list of notifiable fish diseases. As a non-notifiable disease I have no powers to introduce control measures, but I understand that enteric redmouth may be treated effectively with chemo-therapeutants available on prescription from veterinary practitioners.