The Earl Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which of the burial pits for stock affected by foot and mouth disease have had to be emptied of stock; when these pits were started; when they were emptied; and why this action was taken [HL2023)
§ Baroness HaymanTo date there have been five cases where carcasses have had to be exhumed, or are about to be exhumed.
Carcasses buried in a mass burial pit in Sennybridge in April are in the process of being removed and burnt. They were exhumed due to geological faults in the pit, which threatened to carry pollution to a stream 1.5km away.
Carcasses buried in late March on a farm in North Powys were exhumed after heavy rain caused an unpredictable rise in the water table, thus making the ground unsuitable for the burial. The carcasses were exhumed in early May, and were burnt using mobile incinerators.
Carcasses buried on a farm in County Durham in March were exhumed in April because they were contaminating the farm's private water supply.
Arrangements are currently being made to exhume carcasses buried in March on two other farms in County Durham. In both cases, surface water was contaminated after heavy rain.