§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much funding was set aside to test for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in sheep in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; [16970]
(2) what proportion of funding for testing for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in sheep for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 related to scrapie. [16971]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answers 23 November 2001]: The cost of surveillance of TSEs, including scrapie, in sheep is as follows: (i) 1999–2000 £442,000; (ii) 2000–01 £205,000; and (iii) 2001–02 £212,000. Costs for 2001–02 are estimates only.
In the new year the Department will be launching an abattoir survey to test for TSEs, including scrapie, some 23,000 sheep aged over 18 months. This part of an EU-wide programme designed to give information on the incidence of scrapie and other TSEs in the European Union. The total cost will be around £5 million.