HC Deb 27 March 2001 vol 365 c603W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to the British Horseracing Board about the holding of(a) horseracing fixtures in general and (b) the Cheltenham Festival in March; and if he will make a statement. [152288]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 5 March 2001]: On 5 March my Department provided the British Horseracing Board with a detailed veterinary assessment of the conditions necessary to reduce the risk of spreading foot and mouth disease through horserace meetings. The key conclusions are as follows:

  1. (i) No meeting should be held within three kilometres of an infected premises.
  2. (ii) No livestock have been on the racecourse or areas accessible to the public within the previous 28 days.
  3. (iii) No livestock are present in adjoining fields during the 24 hours prior to and during the race meeting.
  4. (iv) All members of the public are restricted exclusively to hard areas, stands and enclosures (not in field areas) during a race meeting.

The decision as to whether individual meetings, including the Cheltenham Festival, should proceed is a matter for the race organisers and racecourse owners. If required, the Foot and Mouth Order 1983 provides powers to prohibit the holding of any sporting or recreational event inside an infected area.