HC Deb 02 May 1996 vol 276 cc641-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had in relation to BSE from the British Veterinary Association; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [27141]

Mrs. Browning

Ministers and officials have had a number of contacts with the British Veterinary Association including a meeting chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister of State with the association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 25 April. That was a useful meeting and we have taken into account the points made to him by the association.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now develop the Narang test for same-day testing of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the urine of living cattle and make it compulsory. [23453]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 28 March 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Members for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) and for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 26 April 1996, Official Report, column 325.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission research into the possibility of detecting BSE in cattle before they are slaughtered. [25894]

Mrs. Browning

[holding answer 23 April 1996]: A considerable amount of research into developing a test to detect BSE in cattle before they are slaughtered is already under way. A list of the research was provided in my answer to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) and for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 1 May 1996.