HC Deb 16 March 2001 vol 364 cc753-4W
Mr. Nicholls

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the(a) terms of reference and (b) membership and (c) programme of the taskforce set up to consider the impact of foot and mouth disease on rural areas; when the taskforce is to report; if he will publish the findings of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement. [154212]

The Prime Minister

I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment to chair a taskforce with the following terms of referenceTo consider the implications of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease for the rural economy, both immediately and in the longer term and to report to the Prime Minster on appropriate measures.

In particular to:

  1. (a) identify the problems that the FMD outbreak is causing for the wider rural economy;
  2. (b) draw up specific guidance for public and businesses in accordance with veterinary advice;
  3. (c) identify any initiatives—e.g. from the Rural White Paper—whose implementation might be brought forward to help those caught up in the crisis;
  4. (d) identify potential new actions which would help to kick-start the rural economy again once the outbreak had been eradicated.

The taskforce include representatives (including Ministers) of the following organisations:

  1. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
  2. Department of Trade and Industry
  3. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
  4. Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  5. Treasury
  6. No. 10
  7. English Tourism Council
  8. Countryside Agency
  9. British Hospitality Association
  10. National Trust
  11. Federation of Small Businesses
  12. National Farmers Union
  13. Country Landowners Association
  14. South West Regional Development Agency
  15. Newcastle University
  16. Local Government Association
  17. National Federation of Women's Institutes
  18. The Rural Group of the Bishops of the Church of England
  19. Countryside Alliance
  20. Scottish Executive
  21. The Wales Office
  22. Northern Ireland Executive
  23. Forestry Commission.

The first meeting of the taskforce took place on Wednesday 14 March and it will meet again early next week. I have asked for the specific guidance to the public and businesses on access to the countryside to be prepared by the weekend, and for a report on immediate initiatives to help those caught up in the crisis as soon as possible next week. The task force will meet regularly.

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