asked the Minister for Agriculture the percentage herd incidence of bovine TB in the national herd in January 1981 and in January 1978.

In January 1981 the bovine TB herd incidence was 2.47 per cent. At the end of December 1977, the nearest appropriate date to January 1978 for comparison purposes, the herd incidence was 7.5 per cent.

I asked about January 1978.

The only figures which are available to me here are for December 1977—which, as the Deputy will appreciate is only some few days from January 1978—and January 1981. The comparison is 2.47 per cent in January 1981 and 7.5 per cent in December 1977, a quite substantial improvement.