§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his Department is doing to research the problem of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Department is currently funding an extensive programme of research into bovine spongiform encephalopathy, including studies into the epidemiology of the disease, transmission to offspring of affected animals and to other species, molecular biological and genetic aspects, clinico-pathology and embryo transfer. The cost of the programme this year is estimated to be over £2 million. There is also international collaboration and discussion with colleagues in the EC, the United States of America and with the Organisation Internationale des Epizooties.
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§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if all animal parts susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy are being banned from use in food production;
(2) if animal foodstuffs are thoroughly checked for bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
(3) what measures are being taken to diagnose bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle.
§ Mr. MacleanAll suspected cases of BSE are being slaughtered and destroyed so that they cannot enter the food chain. It is also the Government's intention, as an ultra-precautionary measure, to ban from human consumption certain bovine offals which might be capable of harbouring the BSE agent in case any animals with pre-clinical disease are still being slaughtered for human consumption. There is no test available for the presence of BSE in live animals or products derived from them.