HC Deb 28 June 2001 vol 370 cc175-6W
15. Sir Robert Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on foot and mouth. [584]

Margaret Beckett

The outbreak continues in a small number of areas in the country and the average number of confirmed outbreaks is now between four to five cases per day. It is vitally important that we continue to bear down on the disease and that all concerned maintain the highest standards of biosecurity on and around farms.

18. Lawrie Quinn

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the impact of recent foot and mouth outbreaks on the rural economy of the North Yorkshire moors with special reference to the measures proposed to regenerate small local businesses in the North Yorkshire national park. [589]

Margaret Beckett

As I saw on my visit to North Yorkshire earlier this week, foot and mouth disease has had a major impact on the wider rural economy, and particularly on important tourist areas such as the North Yorkshire Moors. We are helping small rural businesses in these areas through deferral of tax and VAT, hardship rate relief and through the regional development agency Business Recovery Fund.

26. Mr. McCabe

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the total sum of money made available in compensation payments, to date, to farmers as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. [603]

Margaret Beckett

Up to 21 June, a total of £803 million has been paid out to farmers in Great Britain in compensation for slaughter of animals and destruction of other items, as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak.

27. Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to establish a public inquiry into the Government's handling of foot and mouth disease. [604]

Margaret Beckett

It is right that we consider carefully the issues connected with the foot and mouth outbreak. The question of whether there should be a public inquiry as such, is one for the Prime Minister.

David Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many premises classified as infected with foot and mouth disease in each county of(a) England and (b) Scotland have proved not to be infected; and how many cattle and sheep were involved. [785]

Mr. Morley

An infected premises is one where foot and mouth disease has either been diagnosed by a vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence, or where disease is found after testing. However, a negative laboratory result does not necessarily mean that the disease was not present and does not change the status of an infected premises confirmed on clinical diagnosis.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the foot and mouth crisis on the veterinary sector. [344]

Mr. Morley

No formal assessment has been made, but it is evident that the situation is mixed. Some veterinary surgeons operating in large animal practices will have been unable to carry out much of their normal work because of foot and mouth disease restrictions. However, many of those affected will have carried out work related to the outbreak on behalf of this Department.

Mr. Roger Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will commission an inquiry into the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak. [574]

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will initiate a public inquiry into the cause and handling of the foot and mouth epidemic. [586]

Mrs. Beckett

It is right that we consider very carefully the issues connected with the foot and mouth outbreak. The question of whether there should be a public inquiry as such, is one for the Prime Minister.