HC Deb 20 March 1989 vol 149 cc470-1W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the type of fruit and quantities of each that have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last six years.

Mr. Ryder

The following is the information:

disposing of carcases of cattle slaughtered because of suspected BSE. The method used depends on the facilities available in various parts of the country.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the inactivation of the agent causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy by burial of the carcase of the host.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The only part of a cattle carcase known to carry the BSE agent is the brain, which is removed for laboratory examination prior to the disposal of the carcase and subsequently incinerated. Research is under way to establish whether any other parts of the carcase carry the agent. The carcases are buried in such a way that no other species would be exposed to the agent should it be present.