§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what dates, if any, they issued emergency instructions to the State Veterinary Service about dangerous foot-and-mouth disease contacts associated with the livestock dealers Feakin and Cleave; what were the reasons for any such instructions; and how many foot-and-mouth outbreaks, if any, are so far directly traceable to the activities of these two dealers, including any outbreaks in France and Holland. [HL1455]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Ministry issued emergency instruction to the State Veterinary Service concerning specific market tracings on 6, 10, 14 and 16 March. These instructions were part of the tracing process to identify all premises with animals that had been exposed to infection, including those which had passed through the dealerships of Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave. These premises were regarded as Dangerous Contacts, and all susceptible livestock on these premises were slaughtered. Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave were mentioned by name in an emergency instruction issued on 16 March 2001.
Epidemiological enquiries are continuing into the links between each outbreak and a full report will be published in due course. Currently, at least 80 outbreaks are traceable to movements through the dealerships of Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave. We are liaising with the authorities in France and the Netherlands and also with the appropriate local authorities in the course of these enquiries.