HC Deb 15 November 1989 vol 160 c353W
29. Mr. Allen Adams

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make moneys available to the appropriate authorities to research into the causes of the recent outbreak of mad cow disease.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Government are currently funding extensive programmes 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, which is being met by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is estimated to be over £2 million and some of this work is being carried out at the neuropathogenesis unit in Edinburgh in collaboration with the Ministry's central veterinary laboratory. There is no requirement for additional moneys to be provided by Scottish Office Departments.