HC Deb 23 March 2001 vol 365 cc380-1W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many geographical locations are associated with the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease announced to date. [153841]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 15 March 2001]As of 19 March there are 14 areas within the United Kingdom which are covered by "infected area" restrictions.

These are as follows:

Parts of:

  1. 1. Essex, Kent and Suffolk
  2. 2. Devon and Cornwall
  3. 3. Gloucestershire, Gwynedd, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
  4. 4. Gwynedd and Anglesey
  5. 5. Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire
  6. 6. Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire
  7. 7. Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland
  8. 8. Kent
  9. 9. Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway
  10. 10. Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands
  11. 11. Somerset
  12. 12. Hampshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire
  13. 13. Dumfries and Galloway
  14. 14. County Down and County Armagh.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the different locations affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire. [153843]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 15 March 2001]As of 19 March, two premises in this area have been affected with foot and mouth disease. They are Longmore Farm and The Woodlands, Chaddesley Corbett, Kidderminster. Details of newly affected premises are listed on the MAFF website and provided to Members of Parliament on a daily basis.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he is examining to help other rural businesses, besides farming affected by the foot and mouth epidemic. [154029]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 16 March 2001]I have been asked to reply.

The Rural Taskforce has been set up to look urgently at the wider effects of the foot and mouth outbreak on the rural economy. My statement to the House on 20 March 2001, Official Report, column 192, outlined some preliminary measures to alleviate the immediate financial hardship of small businesses in rural areas. The taskforce will continue to look at this issue and I will make further announcements in due course.