§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the rules concerning the presence of veterinary surgeons acting on behalf of her Ministry attending cattle markets to prevent BSE-infected cattle from being(a) sold and (b) slaughtered for human consumption; and how these rules have changed since 1988.
§ Mrs. BrowningLocal veterinary inspectors acting on behalf of the Ministry attend a proportion of market days for a variety of reasons, including animal welfare. Where they suspect animals at market of being affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy they will inform the Ministry's divisional veterinary officer, who will arrange136W for a visit by a ministry veterinary inspector. Owners and/or auctioneers are required by law to detain such animals for inspection. If after clinical inspection by the ministry veterinary inspector such cattle are suspected of being affected by BSE they will be transported under licence to the farm of origin for further surveillance, and movement restrictions will be served. Alternatively, where the veterinary inspector believes the diagnosis of BSE to be correct, slaughter will take place at the market. Suspect animals unfit to travel back to the farm of origin will also be slaughtered at the market on welfare grounds by the veterinary inspector. He/she will arrange for transportation and disposal of the carcase and submission of the head to a ministry laboratory for examination of brain tissue. All suspects placed under restrictions at the market will be traced to the vendor's premises for the purpose of epidemiological investigation and confirmation of disease.
All cattle going for slaughter are subject to ante mortem inspection by the official veterinary surgeon employed by the local authority at the slaughterhouse where provisions apply in respect of BSE suspects parallel to those in markets.
Under either of these procedures the sale or slaughter for human consumption of BSE suspect animals is prevented. These rules have not changed since 1988.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, since November 1986.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 21 July 1994]: Since the disease was first identified there have been 133,102 confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom to 15 July 1994.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom farms have had at least one confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, since November 1986.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 21 July 1994]: Up to 15 July 1994, 31,948 farms in the United Kingdom have had at least one case of BSE since the disease was first identified.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of compensation paid to a farmer for the destruction of(a) cattle with confirmed cases of BSE and (b) cattle with suspected BSE which subsequently prove not be infected; and how this has changed since 1988.
§ Mrs. BrowningFrom 8 August 1988 to 14 February 1990 compensation paid to farmers for confirmed cases of BSE was an amount equal to 50 per cent. of either the actual market value of the animal or of 125 per cent. of the average market price for commercial grade Friesian dairy cows and heifers in milk and in calf, whichever was the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases was an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the actual market value or 125 per cent. of the AMP, whichever was the lower figure.
From 14 February 1990 until 1 April 1994, compensation paid for confirmed cases was an amount equal to 100 per cent. of either the actual market value of the animal or the AMP, whichever was the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases remained unchanged.
From 1 April 1994, the method of determining the ceiling for compensation was modified to reflect the 137W increasing proportion of older cattle being slaughtered as BSE suspects. The monthly AMP was replaced by the indicative market price, a weighted average of prices of Friesian and Holstein cows, heifers in milk and in calf, and barren dairy cattle, also taking into account the age distribution of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspects in the month. The compensation paid out for confirmed cases is an amount equal to 100 per cent. of either the market value of the animal or the IMP, whichever is the lower figure. Compensation for unconfirmed cases is an amount equal to 100 per cent. of the market value or 125 per cent. of the IMP, whichever is the lower figure.
Source:
BSE compensation order 1994, S.I. 1994 No.673
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries have banned imports of British beef and/or beef products as a result of concerns arising from BSE; and on which dates.
§ Mrs. BrowningThe information is as follows:
Country Beef Yes/No Beef/Products Yes/No Month/Year Algeria Yes Yes January 1990 Argentina Yes Yes August 1991 Bulgaria Yes Yes September 1994 China Yes Yes October 1990 Iran Yes Yes June 1990 Jamaica Yes Yes September 1991 Japan Yes Yes July 1990 Jordan Yes Yes September 1990 Kazakstan Yes Yes August 1993 Libya Yes Yes November 1990 Poland Yes Yes February 1990 Qatar No Yes June 1991 Russia Yes Yes September 1993 Saudi Arabia Yes Yes February 1990 Slovak Republic Yes Yes January 1994 Syria Yes Yes August 1990 Taiwan Yes Yes February 1990 Uae Yes Yes August 1990
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom at the latest available date, in animals born after the ruminant feed ban.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 21 July 1994]: Up to 19 July 1994 there have been 11,648 confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom in cattle born after the ruminant feed bans.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of(a) United Kingdom dairy herds, (b) United Kingdom beef suckler herds and (c) total United Kingdom herds have experienced at least one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, from November 1986.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 21 July 1994]: The percentage incidence of BSE as requested is as follows:
138W
Dairy Herds Beef Suckler Herds Total Herds1 GB 51.73 per cent. 13.57 per cent. 32.42 per cent. Northern Ireland 10.57 per cent. 1.53 per cent. 3.12 per cent. 1 Total herds includes mixed herds and herds of unknown type.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to ensure that the beef industry in Northern Ireland is exempt from the controls concerning BSE in the European Union.
§ Mr. AncramI have been asked to reply.
The incidence of BSE in Northern Ireland is such that it is not possible at present to argue that Northern Ireland should be exempt from the European Community controls concerning BSE.
There is evidence in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland of fewer suspect cases of BSE being reported compared with the same time last year and a decline in the number of younger animals in which BSE is confirmed. Any amendment of the existing restrictions on the export of live animals and beef would be a matter for consideration initially by the European Commission, which has been made aware of the improving BSE position throughout the United Kingdom.