HC Deb 16 February 1989 vol 147 c354W
29. Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for controlling animal diseases.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The Government's policy is to maintain this country's freedom, through stringent domestic and import control measures, from serious animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease. For other, less serious diseases, which do occur, the policy may be one of eradication, control or the provision of advice. In determining what action is appropriate an essential, consideration is the need to safeguard the public from those animal diseases which can be transmitted to man.