§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish figures on the number of appeals against slaughter during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, including how many were upheld and how many of the total appeals were against contiguous culls. [68297]
§ Mr. MorleyIn total there were 584 appeals against slaughter, all but four were dealt with by the local DEFRA Divisional Veterinary Manager. Of the 584 cases where animal owners challenged decisions to slaughter livestock, 534 were appealing against contiguous culls. In total, 376 appeals were upheld, 336 of which were appeals against contiguous culls.
The above figures include the four appeals heard in court of which three were against contiguous culls. Two of the four were upheld; one was an appeal against a dangerous contact cull and the other was against a contiguous cull. The successful appeal against a contiguous cull subsequently became an infected premises.