§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cows were detected with BSE(a) over and (b) under the age oh 30 months in each month of (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. [148877]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 5 February 2001]: No cases of cows with BSE under the age of 30 months were detected in the period referred to. The number of cases confirmed in 1999 and 2000 in Great Britain by month of restriction aged over 30 months is as follows:
502W
Month 1999 2000 January 250 140 February 244 147 March 280 145 April 198 104 May 185 131 June 190 93 July 156 81
Month 1999 2000 August 156 94 September 159 91 October 129 113 November 167 105 December 140 162 Total 2,254 1,306 1 There are three cases pending from 1999. The figures do not include animals tested under the active surveillance programme, which numbered 20 in 1999 and 32 in 2000, as at 9 February 2001 (these figures also include private submissions).
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications with the Agriculture departments of other EU member states his Department(a) has had and (b) plans to have to pass on the UK's environmental experience and good practice of large-scale culling and incineration of cattle liable to be infected with BSE. [150011]
§ Ms QuinThe Intervention Board has had considerable contact on these matters with representatives from other member states. In particular, in mid January the Intervention Board hosted a two day seminar on the Over Thirty Month Scheme at which representatives from Spain, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and the European Commission were present.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he plans to make in the UK standards for the disposal of animal carcases suspected of harbouring the BSE agent as a result of recent large-scale slaughter of possible BSE infected cattle in other EU member states. [150012]