§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the farms in the Alnwick area of Northumberland declared to be infected places in the foot and mouth epidemic were subsequently found to have no positive blood test results. [135916]
§ Mr. BradshawInformation relating to individual premises or farms is held by Defra in strict confidence and, in accordance with the Data Protection Act, cannot be released. Statistical information below county level cannot be released for the same reason, as it may enable premises to be identified. I can, however, report that in Northumberland, during the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease, 75 out of 88 infected premises were sampled and 17 returned negative results.
A negative lab result does not mean that infection was absent. Each case was confirmed on the basis of a clinical diagnosis of foot and mouth disease by the vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence.