§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what surveys for anthelmintic resistance in oesophagostomum have been undertaken in the United Kingdom in the nematodes of pigs; and what steps are being taken to ensure that resistant worms are not imported in pigs from Denmark.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am not aware of any surveys for anthelmintic resistance in the pig nematode, oesophagostomum, or any indications that this is a significant problem that calls for Government action. There are no EU requirements to check for resistant worms and no justification for taking special action in relation to imports from Denmark.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the change in parasite burdens in pigs maintained out of doors.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo data are maintained specifically on this subject. The management of parasitic problems would be carried out normally by the veterinary practitioner responsible for the herd. However, in the course of routine investigations, the veterinary investigation service has discovered the following numbers of cases of intestinal parasites in pigs since 1985. These figures do not differentiate between indoor and outdoor pigs.
- 1985: 21
- 1986: 22
- 1987: 16
- 1988: 21
- 1989: 13
- 1990: 14
- 1991: 7
- 1992: 11
- 1993: 7
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which 10 diseases of pigs in the United Kingdom cause the greatest economic losses to the agriculture industry; what is his Department's estimate of the loss caused to the agriculture industry by each disease; what significant changes he has predicted in the incidence of each of these diseases in the next 10 to 20 years; how much money the Government are spending on research and development on each of these diseases in the current financial year; and what differences in diseases are being observed between pigs reared indoors and out of doors.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThis question can be answered only at disproportionate cost.