Written question asked by John Townend (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 January 1997. It was answered by Viscount Hailsham (Conservative) on Monday, 13 January 1997 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: (Pursuant to reply at 287 c574W) Statement about bovine spongiform encephalopathy. - Inc figs and fact that a further report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy was placed in Lib today.

Answer: Mr. John Townend (Bridlington): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about bovine spongiform encephalopathy. [10143] Mr. Douglas Hogg: [pursuant to the reply 17 December 1996, Official Report column 574]: A further report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy was placed in the Library of the House today. The report gives an update on new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases and explains the new measures taken on cattle identification and animal feed. Reference is made to the five point plan agreed in Florence for the resumption of exports and explains that all the pre-conditions, with the exception of the accelerated slaughter programme have been complied with. It also details the sustained improvement in the handling of SBM in slaughterhouses. The report also announces the occurrence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in a domestic cat after the extension of the specified bovine offal ban in September 1990. The number of clinically suspect cases of BSE reported in Great Britain has continued to fall and at 31 October 1996 was 36.1 per cent. less than at the same time in 1995 and 63.3 per cent. less than the same time in 1994. A continued improvement is expected for the future.

Secondary information