HC Deb 30 March 2001 vol 365 cc797-8W
Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date(i) an official and (ii) a Minister from his Department first informed(a) an official and (b) a Minister in another EU member state that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak; [156384]

(2) on what date (i) an official and (ii) a Minister in his Department first informed (a) an official and (b) a Commissioner in the European Commission that the UK had its first (1) suspected and (2) confirmed case in the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [156385]

Mr. Vaz

The Government Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed the presence of foot and mouth on the night of 20 February. The Government were immediately in close contact with the European Commission and other member states. As lead Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has since then been in constant contact with European colleagues and the Commission. The FCO has supported through Embassies and Ministerial contacts. The Government have taken every step possible to protect our own industry and farming across Europe.