HC Deb 16 December 1969 vol 793 cc294-5W
108. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the findings and the implementation of the recommendations of the second part of the Northumberland Committee Report.

Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now completed his studies of the second part of the Report of the Northumberland Committee on Foot and Mouth Disease; and if he will set out his policy in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

This report is being published today. The House and the agricultural industry are greatly indebted to the Duke of Northumberland and the members of his Committee for this valuable study of the arrangements for controlling outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. With the recommendations on policy contained in Part I of its report, the Committee has given us a comprehensive code for combating this disease.

The report deals in detail with such matters as the organisation for dealing with outbreaks, the necessary pre-outbreak planning (to which the Committee devotes particular attention), the restrictions and safeguards to be imposed in infected and controlled areas, communications and information services and compensation questions. In all the report lists 105 conclusions and recommendations, the vast majority of which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have accepted. Indeed, almost all the Committee's recommendations affecting pre-outbreak planning and the controls which would be needed in the event of an outbreak of disease have already been implemented either by the amending Orders which, after consultation with the Committee, were tabled last October, or by administrative action by our Departments. A few recommendations, notably numbers 3, 20, 21, 26, 68 and 76 have been reserved for consultation with the interests concerned or for further consideration. Decisions on these matters will be announced as soon as possible and in the meantime we are proceeding with the implementation of the remaining recommendations.