HC Deb 16 October 2001 vol 372 cc1214-7W
Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the loss in revenue to the farming industry in England as a result of foot and mouth since the start of the outbreak. [6069]

Mr. Morley

The Department is very much aware that the outbreak is having a considerable impact on farming and a range of industries throughout the UK. However, it is not possible at thin stage to make a reliable estimate of the overall loss of revenue caused by the outbreak. DEFRA is working with a number of other Government Departments to prepare such an estimate and the results of this work will be made publicly available. We are also developing proposals for a survey to collect information from farmers on the direct and indirect impact of foot and mouth disease.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will visit Throckmorton to discuss the implications for the local community of the carcase disposal site. [6435]

Mr. Morley

There are no plans for the Secretary of State to visit Throckmorton. DEFRA officials have worked closely with residents, who are represented on a Local Liaison Group made, together with one representative from the three adjoining Parish Councils.

The last disposal of carcases at this site was on 20 May; adjoining land is being used for storage of surplus materials and equipment. Steps have been taken to reduce noise and wherever possible the number of vehicles delivering surplus materials on site has been limited to five or six per day. Sunday working ceased on 16 September.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the United Kingdom's balance of trade was in(a) livestock, (b) meat products and (c) all foodstuffs for the years since 1997; and what estimate she has made of how this will change as a result of foot and mouth export controls. [6500]

Mr. Morley

The tables show the value of UK trade in livestock, meat and meat products and total food, feed and drink between 1997 and 2000.

The total food, feed and drink (including livestock) table also shows the value of exports of items over this period which are currently under foot and mouth disease export restrictions.

Livestock
£ million
Trade/animal type 1997 1998 1999 2000
Exports
Cattle, sheep, pigs and goats 49 35 29 23
Poultry 43 46 50 60
Exports total 92 81 79 84
Imports
Cattle, sheep, pigs and goats 25 16 17 24
Poultry 5 6 5 5
Imports total 30 22 22 29
Meat and meat products
£ million
Trade type/Meat and meat products 1997 1998 1999 2000
Exports
Red meat 565 456 388 386
Red meat products 45 47 34 38
Poultry and other meat 205 176 164 142
Poultry and other meat products 82 59 62 61
Exports total 898 738 649 627
Imports
Red meat 1,332 1,021 1,113 1,259
Red meat products 352 339 337 382
Poultry and other meat 445 521 545 539
Poultry and other meat products 162 170 200 227
Imports total 2,291 2,051 2,195 2,407
Total food, feed and drink1
£ million
1997 1998 1999 2000
Exports total 10,016 9,327 9,074 8,905
Of which:
Items currently under FMD export restrictions 675 566 492 477
Imports total 17,200 17,220 17,626 17,176
1 Including livestock

Source:

HM Customs and Excise

David Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department first received an offer from hunt staff to assist in the foot and mouth slaughter process; and when the first hunt slaughterman was engaged. [5351]

Mr. Morley

The Masters of Foxhounds Association contacted Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food veterinary officials in the first week of the outbreak. Their offer of help was passed to local disease control centres in order that hunt staff could be called upon if needed. Local hunt staff also directly contacted the disease control centres. The first hunt slaughtermen who were properly licensed were engaged at the end of March. Finding qualified slaughtermen was not generally a problem.

David Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reports her Department has received of(a) crows, (b) foxes and (c) other wildlife eating in the open carcases slaughtered because of foot and mouth. [5350]

Mr. Morley

On some occasions there has been evidence that predation of slaughtered carcases may have occurred. Instructions require carcases awaiting disposal to be, as far as is practicable, put beyond the reach of predators. Carcases are also sprayed with disinfectant which may act as a deterrent to scavengers. However, such animals can and do breach measures put in place to prevent such scavenging.

Following confirmation of disease and slaughter an epidemiological inquiry is undertaken. One aspect of this is to consider possible routes of spread from the premises. Although it is a theoretical possibility that scavenging animals could spread infected carcase material to neighbouring stock, it is considered a much less likely source of infection when compared with other more direct routes of transfer and the overall risk is considered low. The rapid slaughter of affected stock remains the single most important factor in stopping production of virus.

Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that restrictions imposed on rural areas are lifted on a consistent basis. [6083]

Mr. Morley

The removal of movement restrictions on animals around infected premises is governed by EU rules. Other movement restrictions are applied on the basis of the disease status of a county or unitary authority or metropolitan district areas. Counties are reclassified when results of serological testing demonstrate disease freedom.

Other restrictions are largely based on veterinary risk assessments which are published on the DEFRA website.

This Department will continue to ensure that restrictions are applied and lifted on a consistent and proportionate basis. Significant progress is being made on the lifting of the restrictions on farming and other rural activities. Nine out of 10 footpaths are now re-opened. Cleansing and disinfection of farms continues and we are blood-testing animals throughout the country.

David Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason restrictions are being maintained on farms around the Hallburn site, Longtown, Cumbria. [5345]

Mr. Morley

The farms around the Hallburn site were subject to protection zone restrictions due to their proximity to foot and mouth disease infected premises. However, these restrictions were lifted on 23 August 2001. Infected premises in the area remain under separate restriction while the final cleansing and disinfection process is taking place. Farms around the Hallburn site are still subject to the national restrictions on the movement of livestock.