Livestock Movements (Hansard, 15 October 2001)

§ Mr. Luff
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications of D notice restrictions for the movement of farm animals in Worcestershire; when she expects all such restrictions to be removed; and if she will make a statement. [2005]

§ Mr. Morley
[holding answer 4 July 2001]I replied to the hon. Member by letter on 13 August 2001, and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.
1055W

§ Mr. Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to restrict the long-distance movement of farm animals. [5417]

§ Mr. Morley
Long-distance movement of farm animals in Great Britain has been restricted since the foot and mouth outbreak began in February.
From 17 September livestock have been able to move for commercial reasons as well as for welfare reasons, subject to appropriate disease control restrictions and strict biosecurity controls. Journeys are not subject to a distance limit, but the journey must take no longer than nine hours. Full details of the conditions to be applied are available on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the livestock movement restrictions; what is the timetable of such a review; and if she will monitor the applicability of the full range of movement restrictions to the Isle of Wight. [6383]

§ Mr. Morley
The livestock movement restrictions arising from the foot and mouth disease outbreaks are kept under continuous review in the light of progress with eradicating the disease. Farm-to-farm movements are restarting in phases between 17 September and 1 October. We will then review the extent to which additional movements could be permitted over the winter and spring period.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the differences between livestock movement restrictions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. [6374]

§ Mr. Morley
Responsibility for animal health matters is devolved to the Administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but there is close co-operation between the Rural Affairs Departments across the UK.
As the foot and mouth disease situation various across the constituent parts of the UK, different measures are needed to control it in different areas, although a common autumn movement regime currently operates in England and Wales.