§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to draw up a National Contingency Plan in relation to foot and mouth disease. [11736]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 1 November 2001]: Contingency plans are held and regularly reviewed by the Regional Operations Directors who have been put in place to deal with the current foot and mouth disease outbreak. The plans are kept under review and up-dated as necessary in the light of the latest disease situation. They are based on the continued adherence to and rigorous enforcement of the existing control strategies, including tight biosecurity, and take the form of working documents that have to be refined in the light of any new developments including up to date epidemiological advice.
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§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has recently received from Professor Fred Brown regarding new technologies in the diagnosis of foot and mouth disease. [8909]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Department last had contact with Professor Brown some months ago when he proposed the use of new portable technology, a portable SmartCycler, in the diagnosis of foot and mouth. This equipment has been tested at Pirbright against the laboratory-based testing system and results compared.
Early findings indicate that the tests carried out within the laboratory are more accurate as they are able to identify borderline positive samples. This has been crucial in the fight against this outbreak. The technology test itself is quicker than the laboratory by two hours, but in its current form it is not suitable for large scale testing in the field. This is because there are a number of practical considerations which might lead to contamination of samples which are tested in the field. Further work on the validation of the test, the assay procedures and "real time" comparisons with the laboratory system is being carried out. We are always keen to encourage new technology in this area and willing to co-operate in development and validation whenever we have the facility available and it is practical to do so.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received requesting a public inquiry into the origins of the foot and mouth outbreak and the measures taken to control it. [7861]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 15 October 2001]: The Government have received a number of representations on this subject. These have mainly been from parish, district and borough councils.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the average daily fee and commission paid to(a) valuers, (b) slaughtermen and (c) vets for their work in the slaughter of herds owing to FMD between March and October. [12294]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 2 November 2001]: The precise information requested cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. Information on the fee structure is as follows: (a) valuers are paid 1 per cent. of valuation subject to a daily minimum of £500 and daily maximum of £1,500; (b) slaughtermen are paid at or around a headage rate of £2.50 per bovine and £1.00 per sheep, pig or goat; and (c) temporary veterinary inspectors are engaged at a daily rate of £250.
§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what standard operating procedures based upon previous outbreaks had been established by MAFF to deal with foot and mouth. [15371]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 16 November 2001]: Comprehensive veterinary instructions and procedures have been in existence for some years. These are developed in the light of outbreaks of disease (not only foot and mouth) and are continually reviewed and 201W amended where necessary. In this outbreak, numerous instructions have also been issued in response to the developing disease situation.