HC Deb 13 November 1967 vol 754 cc45-6W
Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to introduce a scheme for compensating farmers who are commercially affected by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, through their farms being situated in an area of restriction.

Mr. Peart

I regret that this would not be practicable. Compensation is paid for animals slaughtered and material destroyed in order to eradicate the disease but not for the many consequential losses that affect not only farms but also farm workers, auctioneers and their employees and many persons and bodies not directly connected with agriculture.

This policy was reviewed by the Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease which reported in 1954 and recommended that payment of compensation for consequential losses should not be made. Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the hazards of farming. I, greatly sympathise with those affected by the restrictions imposed to deal with the disease, but I fully concur with the view of this Committee.