§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure the continuation of the compulsory national sheep dipping scheme for the foreseeable future;
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that sheep scab remains a notifiable disease and that dipping be imposed on flocks in which scab is confirmed and on contiguous flocks.
§ Mr. MacleanThe future of compulsory dipping will depend on an assessment of the effectiveness of the existing arrangements, including the degree of commitment to them shown by the sheep industry. Changes in the arrangements for dealing with infected flocks were announced last year and will be implemented shortly.