§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what factors he attributes the increase in cases of salmonella enteriditis and PT4 over the past 12 months; what steps he plans to take to reverse this trend; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanReported isolations of salmonella enteriditis in poultry flocks increased by about I per cent. in 1990 compared with 1989. The increase is likely to reflect the level of bacteriological monitoring which increased in 1989 when compulsory testing was introduced. For broiler breeder flocks in particular, the introduction of compulsory monitoring through the hatchery in October 1989 led to a substantial increase in the number of reported isolations of salmonella enteriditis. For laying flocks producing eggs for human consumption, there was a reduction of 38 per cent. in reports of salmonella entertidis between 1989 and 1990.
The Government's policy on control of salmonella was explained in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 14 January.