HC Deb 28 April 1988 vol 132 c256W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the extent of bovine spongiform throughout the United Kingdom.

Mr. Donald Thompson

As at 22 April, 430 cases of BSE had been confirmed on 359 farms in Great Britain.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will provide more information to farmers and veterinarians about the disease bovine spongiform.

Mr. Donald Thompson

All the known facts about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have been made available to the veterinary profession, the farming industry and the specialist media.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department intends to give to farmers and veterinarians on the problem of bovine spongiform.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Advice, based on the current state of knowledge about the disease, is being provided, particularly through the Ministry's veterinary investigaton centres. There have also been a number of Ministry scientific presentations, publications and general articles on the subject including one, giving the latest advice, which will appear in this week'sVeterinary Record.