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Union delivers foot and mouth petition to Brown |
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Friday, 08 February 2008 |
Farmers' union NFU Scotland will today deliver a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for full compensation for all those in rural Scotland affected by last year's foot and mouth outbreak.
The outbreak, which originated from the UK Government-controlled
laboratory at Pirbright, Surrey, led to a financial crisis in
Scotland's red meat sector and associated industries, the effects of
which are still being felt.
The Scottish Government stepped in to provide crucial emergency aid of
around £25 million, however this represented just a fraction of the
losses suffered by farmers, hauliers, auctioneers, processors and other
rural businesses.
NFUS chief executive Andy Robertson said: "The Scottish livestock
industry was shut down for two months at the most critical time of
year, the autumn sales. It has cost businesses across rural Scotland
tens of millions of pounds and, particularly given the source of this
outbreak in 2007, we believe there is a clear duty on the UK Government
to compensate.
"The containment of the disease was extremely successful because
industry complied with crippling movement restrictions and, in doing
so, saved the taxpayer the billions of pounds spent during the 2001
outbreak. Successful disease control relies on a partnership between
industry and government. Industry has done its bit yet many in rural
Scotland feel the UK Government has walked away from its
responsibilities. Not only has that had a huge financial impact, but it
jeopardises the partnership required in future."
Robertson said that the petition had been signed by thousands of those
affected "by the horrendous fall-out from the biosecurity lapses at
Pirbright last summer".
"This is not just an NFUS petition, it is one on behalf of the whole of
rural Scotland sending a resounding message to the Prime Minister of
what needs to be done."
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