Defra: Research and Development

Debate between Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior and Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Thursday 20th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior]

My Lords, in the promised development of agricultural research, especially in the field of livestock health, will the Minister pay attention to some of the more chronic diseases that are less spectacular than the ones we generally know about—such as foot rot in sheep, mastitis in dairy cattle and parasitism in all production animals?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for bringing to the attention of the House the whole issue of animal health. My right honourable friend David Willetts is going down to Pirbright, where there has been considerable investment. These issues are indeed on the agenda.