§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations his Department has carried out into the recent trend in the number of cases of strangles in UK-based horses; and if he will make strangles a notifiable disease. [57874]
§ Mr. RookerI am aware that the horse industry is concerned over the prevalence of strangles reported in horses in the UK and elsewhere. However, this is a matter for the industry which is best placed to control it, and Codes of Practice published by the Horserace Betting Levy Board already incorporate guidelines on strangles. I have no plans to make strangles a notifiable disease.