HL Deb 23 June 1994 vol 556 cc30-2WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the costs to the wool and leather industries of the damage caused by sheep scab.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)

We do not have specific figures on the cost of damage caused by sheep scab. However, sheep scab is only one of a number of ectoparasitic infestations of sheep and the effects of ectoparasitic damage were debated in another place last summer. The leather industry then estimated the loss in the value of sheepskins due to damage from all ectoparasites to be up to £20 million a year.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review their decision not to make sheep scab a notifiable disease if the action taken by the Irish Government proves successful.

Earl Howe

The Government will take account of all available relevant information when reviewing their policy on sheep scab, including the effects of the increased enforcement measures and autumn publicity campaign which I announced in this House on 17th May.