A question please, straight to the point. Gentleman for his introductory remarks. The brief answer to the hon. Gentleman's question is, by and large, yes. If SEAC receives further evidence which causes it to change its advice, the Government will, by and large, accept its independent advice.
Nothing is laid down in tablets of stone.
The fact that in recent years, many decisions on BSE were either not taken or changed is evidence of that. The answer to the hon. During the election campaign, I visited one of the principal abattoirs dealing with the cull of cattle in Scotland, which is in my constituency. The increase in capacity and the capital investment in the destruction of livestock at that abattoir was almost mesmerising. It is a fact that we kill many animals each year.