HC Deb 14 November 1967 vol 754 cc220-5
Mr. Godber (by Private Notice)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Fred Peart)

Yes, Sir. I am grateful for this opportunity to make the statement which I had hoped to make tomorrow.

I continue to be gravely concerned about the severe epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. The number of outbreaks so far confirmed is 330. The number of animals slaughtered is approximately 28,000 cattle, 16,000 sheep and 18,000 pigs. The disease is largely confined to the counties of Shropshire, Cheshire, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Montgomery-shire. There have been four outbreaks in Lancashire, two outbreaks in Derbyshire, two outbreaks in Staffordshire and one outbreak in Westmorland.

I extend my sympathy to the farming community and assure them of my complete confidence in the work of the veterinary officers who are striving to contain the disease. There are now over 300 veterinary officers working within the infected area, and we have full supporting staff. We have assistance from veterinary officers from Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland and from private veterinary surgeons.

I am sure that the House will join me in thanking these veterinary officers for all the effort they are making. I should also thank the police, local authorities and the Army for their hard work. Liaison with the National Farmers' Union has been excellent.

I stress that it is most desirable that the public should, as far as possible, keep out of the infected areas.

In view of the continuing serious disease situation I have cancelled certain provisional arrangements which would have involved my absence from the country next week so that I can be here to give any support my veterinary staff may need.

Mr. Godber

I thank the Minister for that statement. I echo what he said about sympathy with those involved and his thanks to those who are working so hard to try to contain the outbreak. I should like to ask the Minister three questions.

First, has he any evidence which has enabled him to identify the original source of the outbreak, which will help him to contain it?

Secondly, is he satisfied that supplies, both of milk and meat, in the affected areas are being maintained and will be maintained?

Thirdly, is he confident that he has enough experienced staff on the spot to keep abreast of the enormous amount of work involved in this quite frightening outbreak?

Mr. Peart

As to the evidence that we have obtained up to now, we know that it is a common type—a virulent epidemic type 0.1—but are unable to identify the original source as yet.

On the question of supplies of meat and milk, the answer is "Yes".

As to whether we have enough support in respect of veterinary staff and assistants, I can say that we have at this stage.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

May I, first, express to the right hon. Gentleman my regret that he has not seen fit to make a statement at an earlier stage on this very important matter?

Secondly, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that he is looking at the question of compensation? Am I right in supposing that compensation is paid only when slaughtering is involved? Will he look into the whole question of compensation to farmers who are suffering an enormous disaster at this time as a result of this outbreak, even where animals are not slaughtered? Does not he agree that in the circumstances some form of compensation is vital?

Mr. Peart

I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman referred to my failure to make a statement previously. I have been in touch with many hon. Members on this matter. Indeed, many hon. Members opposite have met my staff. I was anxious to make a statement. I could have waited a bit.

The hon. Member knows what the position is on the question of compensation. I have carried on the same principle that was followed by my predecessors.

Mr. Hazell

I am sure that all hon. Members would wish to be associated with my right hon. Friend's expression of sympathy. Will my right hon. Friend include in his expression of thanks the workers who have the distasteful job of burying the carcases after destruction— one of the most horrible jobs a worker can be called on to do?

Will my right hon. Friend do everything possible, through publicity, to discourage sightseers from going into the affected areas, since they might add to the problem that already represents a major disaster in that part of the country?

Mr. Peart

On the second half of that supplementary question, I have referred to the point in my statement. I agree with my hon. Friend about publicity. We shall continue to publicise the matter that he has mentioned.

I pay tribute to all those who are helping to meet this disaster—it is a disaster—and to those, especially the slaughtermen, who have had to work under very difficult conditions.

Mr. James Davidson

What steps have been taken by the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry to deal with the problem that I raised with his Ministry, namely, the difficulty of moving store stock from one non-restricted area to another non-restricted area where there is an intervening restricted area and where British Railways are not able to provide the necessary transport?

Mr. Peart

I have heard about this, and I will communicate immediately with the hon. Gentleman. Perhaps we may have a word about it after this Question has been dealt with, because I have made inquiries.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Does my right hon. Friend agree that an enormous amount of work has been put into controlling this epidemic by the veterinary services, and that this is the main reason why, despite the very explosive nature of the onset of this epidemic and the large number of cases reported, it is still confined to a comparatively small geographical area?

Mr. Peart

That is true. We have had to take precautions to limit it, and I hope that we shall succeed. I am glad that my hon. Friend has paid tribute to our veterinary staff, who are the best in the world.

Mr. Jopling

Will the right hon. Gentleman repeat his confidence in his slaughter policy, and also inquire into the possible danger of spreading the disease in North Lancashire and Westmorland by the contractors who are beginning work on the extension of the M.6 motorway?

Mr. Peart

This is exactly what my veterinary officers on the spot are trying to do—contain the disaster. I have re-affirmed the slaughter policy. I know that there are arguments about vaccination as opposed to slaughter but we think that ours is the right policy. I know that it causes difficulties, but from the long-term point of view it is preferable to the other method.

Sir Richard Glyn

Will the Minister seriously reconsider the terms of compensation for this tremendous slaughtering which is necessary? Will he bear in mind the fact that farmers lose not only the value of the animals slaughtered but six months' profit, and that in the present state of farming it is likely to drive many farmers into bankruptcy?

Mr. Peart

This has always been a controversial question, but I think that the policy that previous Governments have followed in relation to compensation is the right one. There would be tremendous difficulty if we started arguing about consequential losses. I know that it is a terrible tragedy, but I think that the compensation principle that we follow is the right one.

Mr. Maxwell

Can my right hon. Friend say what new devices and techniques are being used by veterinary surgeons to contain this present explosion? Can he further say whether he has any special advice for the rest of the farming community in those areas which are not affected, as to what additional steps they should take to protect their herds?

Mr. Peart

My hon. Friend should know that we have informed the farming community on many matters—decisions involving the operation of slaughtering techniques, protection, disinfection, and control of movements of stock. A whole series of information is given by the Ministry. Arising from the outbreaks in Northumberland we have sought to improve many of our techniques.

Sir C. Bossom

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General to arrange for regular broadcasts on television and radio during the next few days of the exact position of new outbreaks so as to give farmers and others early warning and keep them fully in the picture?

Mr. Peart

We do this already, but if there is any difficulty I will follow up the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

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