HC Deb 01 November 2001 vol 373 cc805-6W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the Council for the Protection of Rural England's report on the handling of the foot and mouth crisis. [7767]

Alun Michael

The council for the Protection of Rural England's report "The Strategic Lessons of the foot-and-mouth outbreak" contains much which accords with the recommendations in the reports from the rural task force, which I chair, and from my noble Friend Lord Haskins on the impact of foot and mouth disease on the wider rural economy. Both reports were published on 18 October. We are currently considering their recommendations and will respond shortly, taking the views expressed in the CPRE report fully into account.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the independent inquiries into the foot and mouth outbreak will make recommendations. [9070]

Mr. Morley

The Royal Society Inquiry into Infectious Diseases in Livestock has been asked to make recommendations by summer 2002. Dr. lain Anderson's "Lessons Learned" Inquiry had been asked to make recommendations six months after it has officially started.