asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the incidence of ulcerative dermal necrosis in migratory fish in 1978 to date in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with the level in each of the last five years.

In England and Wales, there has been no significant incidence of mortality among migratory fish that could be attributed to ulcerative dermal necrosis this year or in the past five years. A few instances of UDN have recently been confirmed in the South-West and this area will be kept under scrutiny.I understand that in Scotland and Northern Ireland the disease has been less prevalent in recent years than previously. In Northern Ireland it has been identified this year in the upper reaches of the upper Bann, and here, too, a watch is being maintained.