§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what grounds under the clauses in the Animal Health Bill the Government will withhold part of the compulsory purchase payment for animals slaughtered for posing a risk of spreading disease, where the Government considers that the farmer's biosecurity measures are substandard. [27740]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Department launched a public consultation on the implementation of key provisions of the Animal Health Bill on 11 January 2002.
Included in this package are proposals for the matters to be covered by the disease risk assessment that will help to determine the amount of adjusted compensation paid for animals slaughtered on infected premises. We are seeking key stakeholders' views by 15 March.
The consultation document and list of stakeholders can be found on the DEFRA website at http:// www.defra.gov.uk/corporatelconsult/ahbill/index.htm.