BSE (Hansard, 5 November 1998)

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of costs incurred to date by Government and other public sector agencies as a result of releasing witnesses for the BSE inquiry. [57084]

§ Mr. Rooker
No such estimate has been made. The Inquiry has taken evidence from some 60 witnesses who are current members of MAFF and its agencies.

§ Mr. Levitt
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the inquiry into BSE is considering the possible role of organophosphates in causing this disease. [57301]

§ Mr. Rooker
The Inquiry are considering all theories put to them including that relating to the possible role of organophosphates.

§ Mr. Levitt
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the current inquiry into BSE to publish its report. [57294]

§ Mr. Rooker
The Inquiry is due to report to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by 30 June 1999. The Inquiry's report will be published by Government in due course thereafter.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibility for BSE compensation. [57340]

§ Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 3 November 1998]: Animals suspected of being affected by or exposed to BSE are slaughtered under Section 32 of the Animal Health Act 1981. Under Section 32(3), compensation is payable in respect of the animals slaughtered.
The compensation payable for animals affected by BSE is the market value up to a ceiling of 100% of the indicative market price. The compensation payable for animals suspected of being affected by BSE, but in which the disease is not subsequently confirmed, is the market value of the animal up to a ceiling of 125% of the indicative market price. The indicative market price for the month of November 1998 is £467.
Farmers may also be eligible for payments in relation to exposed animals slaughtered under the Selective Cull, and for offspring animals under the Offspring Cull.