§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on rural policy of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [153323]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government recognise the very serious impact that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the restrictions that are necessary to contain it are having on the rural economy generally. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to chair a task force to consider these impacts and to make recommendations on measures to help those caught up in the crisis and to kick start the rural economy once the outbreak has been eradicated. The Government's policies set out in the White Paper "Our countryside: the future (CM 4909)" published in December 2000, will set the framework for the well-being of our rural areas in the longer term.