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Scots deny plan to end ban early

- 25 February 2001
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25 February 2001



Scots deny plan to end ban early


By Fwi staff

THE Scottish Executive has categorically denied newspaper reports that it plans to lift the ban on livestock movements ahead of Friday.

The Scotland on Sunday newspaper claimed that rural affairs minister Ross Finnie had secured Westminsters agreement on relaxing the ban on a regional basis.

It said the minister has instructed officials to investigate how a Scottish exemption to the foot-and-mouth restrictions would work in practice.

While controversial, the newspaper said this would be “a massive boost” for Scottish farmers and provide a basis for the export ban to be lifted.

But an Executive spokesman said that while Edinburgh would not require Westminster approval for this, the ban would stay until at least Friday.

He told the Ananova website: “The reality is that on Friday we imposed a one-week movement restriction order in parallel with England and Wales.

“I can say categorically that nothing will happen before the order ends which is next Friday and there will be no licenses or exemptions issued before then.

“On Friday we may look at the way forward in terms of relaxation but obviously that depends on circumstances at the time.”

Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture vets report the discovery of another possible outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in south Devon.

The suspected outbreak in Devon is at a cattle farm in Beaworthy, near Okehampton, reports Ananova.

Symptoms have been found in the farms herd of 600 cattle Sheep and goats on the site now also face slaughter.

Vets also believe the disease has spread from its likely origin at Burnside Farm in Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland to a neighbouring farm.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown He has stressed that the two infections have not been fully confirmed.

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