§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of instructions given by him to local authorities and the state veterinary service concerning the inspection of bovines for bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the payment of compensation in respect of confirmed and unconfirmed cases.
§ Mr. MacleanInstructions to the state veterinary service are for internal use and not appropriate for placing in the Library. Where local authorities have enforcement responsibilities for legislation relating to BSE, they are provided with the appropriate statutory instruments. In addition, the Ministry's divisional veterinary officers have ensured that meat inspection authorities at non-EC approved slaughterhouses are aware of BSE, its clinical signs and the action they should take if they identify suspected cases.