HC Deb 04 April 2001 vol 366 cc203-4W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on safari and wildlife parks. [156681]

Janet Anderson

[holding answer 3 April 2001]: My Department has made no special assessment of the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on safari and wildlife parks.

However, my Department is in touch with the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland, which includes wildlife and safari parks in its membership, about the implications of the foot and mouth outbreak. They have been involved in developing Government guidance on the circumstances in which visitor attractions should open. The Federation estimates that in the first four weeks of the outbreak, the zoo, wildlife and safar park sector lost approximately £3.5 million in revenue.