§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure(a) that the Animal Health Bill will not impose a regulatory burden on the fanning community and (b) that there will be a more rapid response to future outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. [20825]
§ Mr. Morley(a) The foot and mouth disease provisions of the Animal Health Bill will not impose any additional burden on those farm businesses which are meeting current requirements, as it does not introduce any new 852W obligations. In fact quicker containment and eradication of the disease, for which the powers contained in the Bill would provide, would indirectly benefit all farmers, other sectors of the rural economy and the taxpayer in general.
Similarly, the scrapie provisions of the Bill would not directly impose additional regulatory burden or costs on the industry. However, if the relevant enabling powers were applied, there would be a minimal increase in the level of regulatory burden and cost associated with compliance. The Bill provides powers to compensate for losses suffered or costs incurred as a result of the exercise of these powers.
(b) If there were to be a resurgence or future outbreak of foot and mouth disease the measures in the Bill provide powers to contain the disease more effectively and eradicate it more quickly. The Bill will enable us to limit the spread of disease more effectively than has been possible to date, and thereby to protect the farming community in general from further damage.