§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid out by his Ministry in compensation for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonUp to the end of February 1989, £862,177 has been paid in compensation.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has about the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle by age, sex and breed.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 24 February 1989]: About 80 per cent. of cases of BSE have been confirmed in animals between three and five years of age; all but five, confirmed in bulls, have been female. There is no evidence of any particular breed pre-disposition to the development of BSE.