§ Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many businesses in (a) Devon and (b) cornwall are owed money by the Department for carrying out work during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001; how much is owed for (i) Devon and (ii) Cornwall; and what the largest amount owing to each business is [162714]
§ Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 6 January, 2004, Official Report, column 261W.
The Department is in dispute with one contractor in Devon over charges arising, or which are claimed to have arisen, from the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. It would be inappropriate to comment on a case that is the subject of alternative disputes resolution procedures and, possibly, litigation in due course.
Currently, the Department has no disputes with contractors in Cornwall.