HC Deb 16 February 1990 vol 167 c446W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make it his policy to make the payment of 100 per cent. compensation in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cattle retrospective to 8 August 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

No.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, what factors led him to change his policy in respect of the level of compensation payable in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cattle.

Mr. Maclean

The effect of the disease on the farming industy is becoming greater. It was clearly appropriate to ask whether the compensation arrangements continued to be right when the number of cases will continue to rise and cannot be expected to decline until after 1993.