Becketts hint on slaughter policy
Becketts hint on slaughter policy
DEFRA minister, Margaret Beckett, has given the first hint that the government would not automatically opt for a slaughter policy to deal with any future foot-and-mouth epidemic.
During a Press briefing in the Ribble Valley in Lancs this week she said that once the disease had been eradicated, the government would be looking at all the other options of controlling its spread.
"I fully understand why farmers do not like the slaughter and contiguous cull policy, but this is not the time to abandon it. The policy has brought down the number of cases dramatically.
"We are continually looking at what other steps we could take, and if there are other steps that are more effective at eradicating the disease I can assure you we will be taking them," said Mrs Beckett after a meeting with farmers at Gisburn.
She told journalists that a vaccination policy had "never been ruled out", but it was not an option at the moment.
"I have listened to farmers concerns on several issues, but I was encouraged by their determination to look ahead at ways of rebuilding their businesses."
There was no suggestion of any extra cash for farmers who face the prospect of no income until 2002: "I have not come with an open cheque book," said Mrs Beckett.
But she added that the government was aware that the impact of the crisis would deprive livestock farmers of their seasonal income from traditional stock sales. *