§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount spent on compensation for farmers experiencing bovine spongiform encephalopathy so far(a) at the full animal value and (b) at the 50 per cent. animal value.
§ Mr. MacleanThe information is not available in the form requested. In total, £4,135,729 was paid in compensation from the introduction of the compulsory slaughter policy on 8 August 1988 to the end of February 1990.
§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy notified in the United Kingdom since June 1988; and if he will give the annual figures.
§ Mr. MacleanThe information is as follows for Great Britain:
Year Suspect cases notified 19881 2,517 1989 8,446 19902 3,987 Total 14,950 1From 21 June, when BSE became notifiable. 2Up to 23 March.
§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what other countries apart from the United Kingdom have suffered from bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will list the number of animals and countries concerned.
§ Mr. MacleanNineteen cases of BSE have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland and two cases in cattle exported from Britain to Oman.
§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in the discussions with West Germany relating to the resumption of normal export trade of British beef to that country.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Germans did ask for supplementary guarantees to accompany consignments of beef from the United Kingdom. However, following the European Community's scientific veterinary committee's endorsement of our view that British beef is not a danger to public health they are no longer seeking such guarantees for the great majority of our sales to them.