HL Deb 05 June 2000 vol 613 c138WA
Lord Glentoran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the French whole herd slaughter policy of BSE-affected herds has led to a serious distortion of the recorded figures for the incidence of BSE. [HL2617]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)

Any slaughter scheme will affect the disease statistics as animals will be removed before they have the opportunity to develop clinical signs.