HL Deb 27 February 2002 vol 631 cc239-40WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many appeals were lodged each month during the foot and mouth disease outbreak against the valuation of slaughter stock, and for each figure (a) how many cases have been determined; (b) how many are proceeding; and (c) how many cases still awaiting action are more than three months old. [HL2481]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

Information is not fully available in the form requested. The number of counter notices (appeals against valuation) received within the 14-day time limit is as follows:

Received
March-June 2001 301
July 42
August 85
September 41
October 56
November
December
January 2002
Total 525
Of the 525 cases, 151 have now been resolved.

Due to the fact that there have been no cases of FMD for more than three months, all remaining 374 ongoing cases are more than three months old. However, these remaining cases are at various stages of investigation, or awaiting a response from the farmer. In seven of these cases, an arbitrator has been appointed or we have reached a joint agreement on the appointment of an arbitrator. The farmer or the department can refer the matter of the value of the disputed animal(s) to an arbitrator at any stage.

In all cases of disputed foot and mouth valuations, including those received outside the statutory deadline, we are in correspondence with the farmers concerned.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many requests by letter, telephone or e-mail they have received from (a) formally constituted bodies such as local authorities; (b) individuals; and (c) businesses, proposing the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001. [HL2778]

Lord Whitty

The Government have received a number of representations in a variety of forms on this subject. These have been from a number of sources—mainly county, district, borough and parish councils. The department has also received two petitions.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 January (WA 58), how many animals have been slaughtered since the last confirmed foot and mouth disease outbreak. [HL2707]

Lord Whitty

Six thousand one hundred and twelve animals have been slaughtered since the last case of foot and mouth was diagnosed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2001. These animals were slaughtered as dangerous contacts as a result of returning seropositive blood samples.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 January (WA 58), (a) how many animals were slaughtered in total, apart from those on infected premises, dangerous contacts premises and slaughter on suspicion premises; and (b) how many animals died but were not included in the slaughter figures, such as unborn lambs or calves. [HL2708]

Lord Whitty

As described in the Written Answer on 31 January, apart from those animals on infected premises, dangerous contacts premises and slaughter on suspicion premises, some two and a half million animals have been slaughtered as a result of the receipt of eligible applications under the livestock welfare disposal scheme and the light lambs disposal scheme.

Young animals, which had been born before the time of slaughter, are included in the total figure of animals slaughtered for disease control purposes. No record was taken of unborn animals.