§ Mr. William Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken or intends to take to extend the existing safeguards against foot and mouth disease in regard to (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland beyond the end of 1983, so far as intra-Community trade is concerned, with particular reference to EEC documents 9415/82 and 9449/82.
§ Mrs. FennerIt will continue to be the Government's intention to safeguard the animal health status of the United Kingdom in relation to foot and mouth disease.
The Council of Ministers considered the existing foot and mouth derogations at its meeting earlier this week. It concluded that the derogations should be extended until the end of June 1984 during which time the European, Commission will formulate proposals for the establishment of more permanent arrangements. In the meantime, discussions on the draft directive on control arrangements in the event of an outbreak of foot and mouth will no doubt continue.