Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Thursday, 1 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 April 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 29 April 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the BSE tests she has been conducting at High Mowbray in Yorkshire. - (Holding answer 19 April 2004).

Answer: Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the BSE tests she has been conducting at High Mowbray in Yorkshire. [166441] Mr Bradshaw [holding answer 19 April 2004]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to BSE research that was conducted between 1989 and 2001 at High Mowthorpe Centre in North Yorkshire as no BSE tests or research have been conducted at High Mowbray. Embryos were derived elsewhere from BSE- infected cattle and transported to High Mowthorpe, where they were transferred to recipient BSE-free dams from New Zealand. A total of 266 live born calves were produced from 347 recipient females and all 613 animals were monitored for seven years. None developed BSE and no sign of BSE was observed when brains were subjected to post-mortem examination. These findings led to the lifting of the import/export ban on cattle embryos in 2002.

Secondary information