Written question asked by Gavin Strang (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 March 1997. It was answered by Viscount Hailsham (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 March 1997 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: What (a) financial and (b) other assistance is available to farm businesses whose supply of point of lay pullets is halted by measures taken to contain Newcastle disease.

Answer: Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) financial and (b) other assistance is available to farm businesses whose supply of point of lay pullets is halted by measures taken to contain Newcastle disease. [21145] Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Animal Health Act 1981 makes no provision for the payment of consequential losses following an outbreak of a notifiable disease, including Newcastle disease and so such payments are made. Directive 92/66/EEC, as implemented in Great Britain by the Diseases of Poultry Order 1994 (as amended) requires that controls on the movement of poultry are imposed in an area surrounding each confirmed outbreak of Newcastle disease. Every effort is made to limit disruption to the poultry industry consequent upon the imposition of these controls subject to the overriding need to contain the spread of disease.

Secondary information