Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of compensation being provided for those who have had flocks of poultry destroyed as a result of the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease.
§ Mr. HanleySchedule 2 to the Disease of Animals Order (Northern Ireland) 1981 provides for compensation for flockowners in the case of Newcastle disease. The rate is at the value of the birds immediately before slaughter. Compensation is also paid for any eggs or feed which have
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District council area 11985 11986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Antrim 291 298 300 296 349 316 327 Ards 202 200 208 216 198 197 188 Armagh 521 518 523 523 501 467 368 Ballymena 664 662 694 705 660 658 656 Ballymoney 105 115 123 126 115 99 98 Banbridge 122 128 135 140 130 107 109 Belfast 13,322 13,616 13,706 13,743 13,327 13,577 14,209 Carrickfergus 107 114 117 126 148 162 161 Castlereagh 316 366 433 473 489 497 506 Coleraine 751 775 773 769 764 739 729 Cookstown 244 241 250 258 246 232 228 Craigavon 719 748 766 7X1 781 766 741 Derry 832 838 851 874 863 X64 962 Down 424 443 452 466 461 460 453 Dungannon 210 220 231 235 213 201 284 Fermanagh 504 508 517 522 497 459 453 Larne 129 129 133 137 139 129 127 Limavady 126 127 139 141 134 124 117 Lisburn 499 478 482 519 511 495 479 Magherafelt 105 113 116 119 124 106 108 Moyle 14 12 11 10 10 9 10 Newry and Mourne 439 431 428 434 428 389 386 Newtownabbey 278 310 282 293 268 228 299 North Down 802 764 786 831 848 861 864 Omagh 624 628 630 641 642 627 626 Strabane 143 146 147 152 140 125 116 Total 22,493 22,928 23,233 23,530 22,983 22,894 23,604 to be destroyed. Provision is made for those flockowners who are dissatisfied with the amount of compensation offered to have recourse to independent valuation.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many poultry flocks have been affected by Newcastle disease since 1 April; what is the source of the present outbreak; what precautions have been taken against the spread of Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyNewcastle disease has been confirmed in one poultry flock since 1 April 1991.
Epidemiological investigations are continuing but the available evidence indicates that the source of the outbreak was contaminated feed.
The Department of Agriculture in accordance with EC and domestic legislation impress restrictions on the movement of all poultry, poultrymeat and eggs in a 10 km zone around infected areas.
After consultation with the poultry and compound feedingstuffs industries, the Department introduced regulations requiring all poultry rations to be heat-treated, or until 31 August 1991 handled through closed systems, so as to minimise the risk of contamination. Heat treatment of feedstuff's is the most secure means of preventing the spread of infection from this source. The Department has issued advice to poultry producers on how to prevent infection, the symptoms to look out for and the need to report promptly any suspicion of disease.