§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is currently being undertaken into the incidence of scrapie; and whether he has any programme to reduce such incidence.
§ Mr. MacleanScrapie has existed in this country for many years and no specific research into its incidence is currently being undertaken. Advice is available to farmers from ADAS on the control of the disease and flock owners may participate in a monitoring scheme under the Ministry's sheep and goat health scheme. Work is being undertaken at both the central veterinary laboratory and the neuropathogenesis unit to develop a diagnosis test. Work is being funded through the science budget to evaluate the genetic predisposition of sheep to scrapie. In addition, MAFF continues to fund work on a scrapie-resistant flock to assess the potential of breeding programmes for control and reduction of the incidence of scrapie in sheep.