DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has defended the
government's determination to press ahead with plans to share the
cost of fighting animal disease with farmers.
Speaking at the Royal Show on Thursday (9 July), Mr Benn
acknowledged there had been a lively debate around the
responsibility and cost-sharing.
But disease outbreaks were costly for the state and for farmers
and their families, he told listeners on Thursday (9 July).
A government consultation which closed earlier this month had
attracted 170 responses from interested parties, Mr Benn said.
The government had been examining those responses as it prepared
to create an independent body for animal health.
It cost the government £400m annually to maintain animal health
and welfare even during disease-free years, said Mr Benn.
"I think sharing some of that cost will give farmers greater say
in how the risks are handled," said Mr Benn.
The 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak had cost the government £3bn,
Mr Benn added. The 2008 avian flu outbreak had cost it £2m.
Ultimately both those bills were paid by the taxpayer.
Michael Seals, chairman of the
National Fallen Stock Company
(Nafsco) said public-private partnerships could work if they were
properly created and managed.
Nafsco had actually reduced the cost of fallen stock disposal,
Mr Seals told a debate on responsibility and cost-sharing.
"I have no crystal ball but I believe the future can be seen, at
least in part, in the past," Mr Seals said.
But the new regime must address the fact that £400m was too
expensive for farmers.
An entirely new system of managing animal health issues was
vital, Mr Seals added.
Bold steps must be taken to locate the new body out of London,
with new staff on non-government premises.
This would help to keep costs low, while signalling a fresh
start which was more likely to be accepted by livestock
producers.
