§ Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what co-operation he received from the Dutch in dealing with the lead contamination of cattle feed; and if he will make a statement on the situation in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Dutch authorities acted promptly in alerting the United Kingdom Government on 1 November that contaminated feed had been imported594W into the United Kingdom. Subsequently there was close liaison between Dutch officials, United Kingdom embassy staff in the Hague and officials in the United Kingdom in an effort to clarify the events leading to the contamination.
In Wales, restriction orders on the movement of milk have been lifted; 159 farms remain under restriction for the movement of livestock.
Schemes have been introduced to allow animals to be released from controls, subject to satisfactory results from blood testing and on condition that the bone and offal from slaughtered animals is not used for human consumption. Since the introduction of the schemes some 8,000 animals have been cleared in Wales.
Our primary aim has been to prevent contaminated products reaching the public. An extensive research programme is under way to monitor the rate of decay of lead in animals and depending on the results it may be possible to reduce some of the controls. Restriction cannot be eased until it is absolutely safe to do so.