Downing Street Says » Foot and Mouth

In response to the suggestion that the Prime Minister might be sympathetic to the idea of regionalising the system of restrictions, given that Scotland and Wales were hoping to experience the lifting of restrictions in a limited way, the PMS said the key thing to remember was that everything was guided by the scientific evidence and advice, so such matters were for the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) to comment on and the Prime Minister would not want to second guess that. Asked whether it was an issue that the Prime Minister would be seeking advice on, the PMS said that the CVO would no doubt be looking at a whole range of issues and it would be for her to examine such issues on the basis of the scientific facts available and make a recommendation. It was not for the Prime Minister to try and second-guess that in any way.

Asked if this was in fact an issue for the Chief Veterinary officer, the PMS replied that on confirmation of the disease, the UK CVO would establish an immediate Great Britain animal movement ban. It was then for the CVO and her counterparts in the devolved administrations, to make decisions on which movements could be allowed based on an assessment of the veterinary risk.

In response to the suggestion that it looked like a political decision made by vets from two devolved administrations, the PMS said there was discussion between experts based on their view of the science. It was not for the Prime Minister or anyone else to intervene in the matter.

Asked what the Prime Minister would be saying to the Surrey farmers in his meeting with them at the headquarters of the National Farmers Union (NFU), the PMS replied that the Prime Minister would be saying he fully understood the farmers concerns and he would be reassuring them that the government would be doing everything in it’s power to control and eradicate this disease. The Prime Minister would be listening to any particular concerns the farmers might have.

Asked for details on that mornings COBRA meeting, the PMS said that it was a general update meeting and if there was anything more to say the Chief Vet would make an announcement.

Asked if compensation was on the agenda at the NFU meeting, the PMS said that there was already compensation for those farmers directly affected. There was this discussion previously and compensation was made available in relation to the previous outbreak in August. The PMS added that the priority for everyone at this point was to ensure all necessary steps were taken to control and eradicate the disease.

Asked why the Government were not vaccinating animals, the PMS said that vaccination was an option kept under review, but he again stressed that it was an issue where the Government would be guided by the science. The Government had to be open-minded and see how the situation progressed. The PMS emphasised that the Prime Minister would be guided by the best scientific evidence and advice.

In response to the suggestion that there was a need to review the arrangements governing the movement restrictions, as it appeared that movement restrictions had been removed too quickly, the PMS said it was far too early to reach any conclusion of that kind. There was a need to establish the source of the most recent outbreak, but as the Government emphasised yesterday, the decision to lift the restriction zone was one that was made by the CVO on the basis of the best scientific evidence and one that had been subsequently supported by the academic community and the NFU.

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» Friday, September 14, 2007

Foot and Mouth

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