Defra told to act over Foot & Mouth

Wednesday, 2 February 2005 12:00 AM

Another outbreak of Foot & Mouth remains possible, according to a National Audit Office report into the 2001 Foot & Mouth outbreak.

It warns that Foot & Mouth is still common in many areas of the world and international trade and travel raises the prospect of another outbreak "at any time".

Defra is praised for taking steps to reduce the likelihood of the disease entering the country, through tackling illegal meat imports, and for negotiating veterinary resources in advance. But, the NAO warns that work is not yet finished on the computer system that would be used to manage any outbreak.

It also reveals that the European Commission will only pay a third of farmers' compensation bills, as opposed to the normal 60 per cent because it believes the animals culled in the UK were valued between two and three times their likely market value.

Defra is now consulting on a new compensation scheme for all animals, with standard market rates set in advance.

The NAO reports that Defra has paid 97 per cent of all invoices from contractors arising from the outbreak, with most of the remainder now embroiled in legal action.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has lodged a complaint against Defra, claiming that contractors are still owed £40 million in unpaid bills.

Chief executive Nick Goulding, said: "These bills have now been outstanding for more than three years. That is thoroughly unacceptable which is why as a final resort we are lodging a complaint with the BPPG. The FPB hopes this report will give Defra the kick up the backside it needs to pay these hard working firms - with immediate effect."

Head of the NAO, Sir John Bourn, said there was still work for Defra to do: "Defra is now much better prepared than in 2001, but still has work to complete, for example to develop a new compensation system for culled animals; to determine how the costs of controlling future livestock disease outbreaks should be borne; to link its central government contingency plans with those of local agencies; and to update Information Technology support for future disease outbreaks."

The National Farmers' Union president, Tim Bennett, said that nobody could be "complacent" about future outbreaks

He said: "Enormous progress has been made, and it is clear that the country is in a better position to handle a similar crisis today than it was in 2001. However, we still face very real threats from around the world."

The NFU is still in discussion with Defra over compensation. Mr Bennett added: "Our view is very clear: We need a system that recognises the intrinsic value of individual animals and we believe this is best managed by the retention of professional independent valuers."

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