HC Deb 22 November 2001 vol 375 cc430-2W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which countries have used inoculation as a preventive tool in trying to combat foot and mouth disease breakdowns over the last five years; [8545]

(2) if she will list the countries that inoculate all their animals against foot and mouth disease breakdowns. [8544]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 18 October 2001]: These questions can be fully answered only at disproportionate cost. However, the website of the Office International des Epizootics www.oie.int/eng/en—index.htm provides a very detailed range of statistics regarding the control measures employed by its member countries.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department has identified the origins of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [15625]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The current epidemic has been caused by a specific strain of the foot and mouth virus (PanAsian Strain O) which has occurred in a number of countries around the world. The precise means of the introduction of the virus into Great Britain is unknown and the subject of continuing investigations, but is more likely to have been introduced in illegally imported meat or meat products.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans and resources were established within MAFF to deal with foot and mouth disease before the outbreak this year. [15370]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: Prior to the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease, MAFF had contingency plans for dealing with outbreaks of serious animal disease which included detailed operational instructions for use by the state veterinary service. The general contingency plan for foot and mouth was updated and submitted to the European Commission in July 2000. MAFF regularly held local emergency exercises in co-operation with the police, supervised by the divisional veterinary manager. Animal health offices were required to regularly update their local contingency plans.

Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which office in her Department is responsible for co-ordinating policy on foot and mouth; and how many civil servants are working in this policy area. [15373]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The co-ordination of foot and mouth policy is the responsibility of the DEFRA ministerial team. Day-to-day responsibility for foot and mouth eradication policy lies with Jim Scudamore as chief veterinary officer and director general of animal health and welfare in DEFRA. The CVO is closely supported in this work area by the veterinary director and the director of animal health.

The directorate general includes veterinary and administrative staff engaged in an extremely wide rang of FMD related duties, and works closely with other teams inside DEFRA, notably the joint co-ordination centre (JCC) which reports to Mark Addison, director general operations and service delivery.

The number of officials, at all levels, within Jim Scudamore's team in headquarters who work full time in the exotic diseases veterinary team and the foot and mouth division is 47.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what instructions have been issued by her Department to the chairmen of the foot and mouth disease inquiries(a) to concentrate on the handling of future animal disease outbreaks and (b) to exclude the handling of the outbreak from their inquiries and final reports; and if she will make a statement. [16659]

Mr. Morley

On 9 August 2001 the Prime Minister announced two independent inquiries and a policy commission into the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

The "Lessons Learned" inquiry is to make recommendations for the way in which the Government should handle any future major animal disease outbreak in the light of the lessons identified from the handling of the 2001 FMD outbreak in Great Britain. The Royal Society has been asked to review scientific questions relating to the transmission, prevention and control of epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases in livestock in Great Britain. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food will advise on how to create a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector.

No specific instructions have been issued to the chairmen of the two inquiries and the Policy Commission beyond the terms of reference.