Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 15 Ebrill 1970.
Mr Richard Glyn
, North Dorset
12:00,
15 Ebrill 1970
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now bring in quarantine regulations against rabies for cattle and sheep, and especially for those coming from North-West Europe.
Mr John Mackie
, Enfield East
No. Cattle and sheep, although possible victims, are not carriers of this disease.
Mr Richard Glyn
, North Dorset
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that imports of substantial numbers of cattle from Northern Europe are expected and that published figures show that the incidence of rabies in recent years in these areas has been nearly four times as great among cattle as among dogs and cats? Will he at least warn the importers of those dangers?
Mr John Mackie
, Enfield East
These animals can be victims but they are not carriers, and there is no greater case for the imposition of a rabies quarantine on domestic livestock than there is for requiring the isolation of human beings coming from places where rabies is prevalent. Sometimes I would like to take powers to isolate certain people.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
