HL Deb 25 November 2002 vol 641 cc23-4WA
Lord Inglewood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they believe that in any future disease outbreak leading to any general legal declaration covering the closure of footpaths or land by county councils such a declaration should be made on a strictly time-limited basis, for example 28 days. [HL72]

Lord Whitty

The Government do not intend to empower local authorities to close footpaths or land by means of a general legal declaration in a future outbreak of animal disease. The Government's published contingency plan for foot and mouth disease makes clear that local authorities will be empowered to close rights of way within infected areas only in circumstances similar to the 2001 outbreak when veterinary advice is that closures would generally only be justifiable within 3km of an infected farm. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate to set a 28-day time limit. The re-opening of rights of way will follow on from the lifting of restrictions on the infected farm and those within the 3km zone.