§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide compensation for(a) zoos which are forced to close as a foot and mouth disease precaution and (b) supplies of goods and services to zoos. [156582]
§ Mr. MeacherI recognise that some Zoos, in common with other enterprises relying on visitor income, have been badly affected by the impact of foot and mouth disease and our first priority is to encourage visitors to return, where it is safe to do so. Zoos, together with other affected businesses can benefit from the package of short term measures which I announced on 20 March 2001,Official Report, columns 191–210, including the deferral and rearrangement of payments to Customs, Inland Revenue and of business rates. The Rural Task Force is continuing to look at the scope for additional measures to help rural businesses severely affected by the economic impacts of foot and mouth disease.