HL Deb 29 October 1998 vol 593 cc227-8WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest estimate of the total cost to public funds so far of dealing with BSE; and whether they will break down this information by financial year. [HL3431]

Lord Donoughue

The gross cost to public funds since 1 April 1996 of dealing with BSE is approximately £3.2 billion. For the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 costs were £1.5 billion and £1.0 billion respectively. We have, however, received EU contributions of approximately 45 per cent. towards these costs. Costs in 1998–99 are forecast to be about £0.7 billion.

Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish in the Official Report an updated table showing the number of BSE cases that have been confirmed during each week during 1998 together with the moving annual total of cases reported in each 52-week period ending in 1998 to date. [HL3432]

Lord Donoughue

The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 1998 up to 16 October, together with the moving annual total of cases reported for this period.

Year 1998
Week number Number confirmed each week 52 week total reported
1 58 5,572
2 65 5,551
3 70 5,524
4 88 5,528
5 89 5,524
6 140 5,497
7 156 5,447
8 122 5,438
9 57 5,426
10 138 5,402
11 56 5,352
12 71 5,309
13 55 5,311
14 94 5,287
15 55 5,271
16 21 5,249
17 41 5,231
18 102 5,186
19 96 5,167
20 36 5,121
21 73 5,100
22 26 5,088
23 31 5,055
24 160 5,048
25 83 5,040
26 63 4,976
27 49 4,950
28 41 4,936
29 61 4,910
30 36 4,881
31 23 4,854
32 20 4,834
33 37 4,792
34 20 4,767
35 42 4,735
36 47 4,664
37 30 4,675
38 47 4,657
39 50 4,634
40 41 4,615
41 20 4,611
42 38 4,566

Note:

Week 1 is the week ending on the first Friday of the year.