§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the adequacy of his Department's inspection and other machinery in relation to the control of fish disease; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI have been asked to reply.
Legislative controls and the work of this Department in seeking to prevent the introduction and spread of fish diseases are kept under review. Important changes in the machinery for dealing with fish diseases were made as a result of the Diseases of Fish Act 1983, including a provision for the registration of fish and shellfish farming businesses which was implemented in 1985. Earlier this year controls on the import of ungutted salmon and trout came into operation to safeguard against the introduction of the serious fish diseases VHS (viral haemorrhagic septicaemia) and IHN (infectious haematopoietic necrosis).