§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the basis for his statements of 22 April,Scottish Grand Committee, Official Report, column 10, and Official Report, column 36; and what response he has had from the European Commission in respect of this matter. [27661]
§ Mr. Raymond S. Robertson[holding answer 2 May 1996]: Since the onset of BSE, we have followed the best available scientific advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and introduced strict controls for the protection of public health. The World Health Organisation has endorsed our actions. All of this is on record. However, despite this independent scientific endorsement of the safety of British beef, the European Commission placed a complete ban on all beef-related exports to any part of the world. It has not offered any scientific justification for this and Commissioner Fischler has publicly stated:
I would not hesitate to eat beef in England. I see no medical reason not to.There is therefore no alternative valid interpretation to that offered by my right hon. Friend on 22 April.