To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instruct veterinary surgeons to conduct post mortem investigations in cases of hound ataxia to ensure that it is not unrecognised canine spongiform encephalopathy.

I am not aware that any cases of hound ataxia have occurred in Britain in recent years. No cases of spongiform encephalopathy have been identified in canines but the state veterinary service investigates suspect cases in various species referred to it.