Here we go again

Last time Britain was hit by Foot and Mouth Cumbria was the worst affected county. Both farming and tourism suffered extremely badly, to such an extent that even now some farms and businesses are even now still recovering.

Even if the present outbreak is contained, it has potential to do vast damage which the countryside can ill afford, through loss of exports.

I support David Cameron's call for practical action to control the problem.

We need to make sure swift measures are taken both on farm footpaths and on livestock burial to help enforce the foot and mouth exclusion zone imposed around a Surrey farm.

As David said after a farmer reported that walkers were seen crossing farmland within the zone, all steps should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

Speaking after talks with NFU leaders in London, David Cameron said:

"Of course we want the countryside to be open for business, but within the exclusion zone it's very important that people don't actually walk from farm to farm, otherwise there will be a risk of spreading it."

He made clear that the Conservatives support the action the Government has so far taken.

"We fully support what the Government is doing to contain, control and eradicate foot and mouth disease in Surrey, and make sure it doesn't spread," he said. "The most important steps have been taken - above all the movement ban. But there are now some practical questions that need to answered."

He added tat, besides the footbath issue, there is a need to look at lifting the ban on on-farm burials, to allow fallen stock to be dealt with during the movement restrictions. And farmers will have every right to be angry if it turned out that the virus was released either from the Institute for Animal Health in Pirbright or from the next-door lab at Merial - which is inspected and licensed by the Government.

Speaking earlier at the Cranleigh Show, Mr Cameron declared: "The Government will have some serious questions to answer about the report which came out in 2002 that said the facilities were shabby and not up to standard.

"Farmers up and down the country are going to be quite angry because they have done masses to improve their own biosecurity and they are all suffering at the moment, apparently because of mistakes made at a laboratory which is meant to stop foot and mouth.

"While the movement ban is absolutely right ... we shouldn't forget that the ban on moving all animals around the country is not pain-free.

"It means abattoirs are closed for business but they still have to pay their staff. It means that markets and auctions are completely out of business while the ban continues. Many farmers who need to move stock can't do that. Farmers will be suffering from the movement ban. They will support it - they know it is right - but if they are suffering because others have made mistakes, they have every right to be quite angry."

Finally Mr Cameron declared:

"Obviously the Government have questions to answer because Pirbright is a Government facility and the next-door factory is licensed and inspected by the Government. But we shouldn't jump to conclusions."

He also made clear that he welcomed the independent inquiry into the causes of the outbreak.

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