Downing Street Says » Avian flu/compensation

» Friday, April 20, 2007

Avian flu/compensation

Asked to explain his earlier comments about compensation to be paid to turkey producer Bernard Matthews, Mr Straw said that the system gave people rights under the law on a fair basis. The reason why compensation generally was paid in respect of the slaughter of animals was because farmers would otherwise lose their livelihood and also because farmers would have no excuse against reporting diseases which could lead to an epidemic. If the questioner was asking whether he personally was uncomfortable with the specific compensation, Mr Straw repeated the comments he had made in the House earlier.

Asked to explain why that was the case, he said he was merely expressing what he felt. Pressed on the issue, the Leader said that he was not willing to go into further detail, but he did not think that he was alone in feeling uncomfortable about it. He said that, without making direct reference to Bernard Matthews, there was a balance to be struck between ensuring that a farmer reported evidence of animal disease immediately and, on the other hand, if farmers were negligent in some way for the fact of the disease, that appropriate action was taken.

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