§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of compensation to be paid by his Department as a result of the(a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex outbreaks of Newcastle disease in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [2692]
§ Mr. RookerThe Department has paid £1,559,803 to date in respect of three outbreaks of Newcastle disease near Ross on Wye and £21,235 for two outbreaks in Sussex which occurred during 1996–97. A further sum of about £300,000 in compensation is expected to be paid in connection with one of the outbreaks near Ross on Wye.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the reasons behind the 1996–97 outbreaks of Newcastle disease in(a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [2693]
§ Mr. RookerThe State Veterinary Service has conducted an epidemiological investigation into the cause of three outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Ross on Wye and one in Sussex which occurred in January this year. It has not been possible to confirm either a definitive source for the infection or how the virus had spread between premises. However, it is believed that the virus may have originated from migrating birds and was subsequently spread between premises by the movement of people, vehicles or equipment.
An outbreak of Newcastle disease in a pheasant farm in Sussex in May 1996 was attributed to contact with wild pigeons or doves which were infected with the PMV1 virus.