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2 Mar 2005 : Column 1162W—continued

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the 10 largest amounts paid to valuers in each county in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic were. [216185]

Mr. Bradshaw: A national fee structure applied to reimbursement of valuer's fees for valuations undertaken during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. The fee agreement was a fee of 1 per cent. of the valuation total, subject to a £500 per day minimum and a £1,500 per day maximum per valuer.

Individual valuers often worked across a number of disease emergency control centres and animal health offices which themselves covered more than one county.

Information on the 10 largest amounts paid to individual valuers in each county is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of a possible link between the level of commission paid to valuers in the foot and mouth epidemic and the level of their valuations; [216186]

(2) if she will take steps to uncouple the link between fees paid to valuers and the levels of commissions paid to them for assessments of animals to be destroyed due to disease. [216187]

Mr. Bradshaw: A review of the system for valuation was undertaken after the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. A national list of valuers, approved on the basis of their qualifications and experience in livestock valuation, has been set up. There are 280 valuers covering England and Wales. There is a separate list for Scotland, though valuers on either list can be used both sides of the border. The lists are for use in any future outbreak of exotic disease e.g. foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and Newcastle disease.

Fees will be paid on the basis of £100 per hour for time spent carrying out the valuation and reasonable travelling from office to office. As fees in the future will be based on an hourly rate, they will not be related to the level of valuation of the livestock.
 
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Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes took place in the average amount paid in compensation for (a) sheep and (b) cattle during the foot and mouth epidemic in each month of the epidemic. [216540]

Mr. Bradshaw: The average amount paid in compensation for both sheep and cattle is as follows:

	Average
Month	Sheep	Cattle
February	62	547
March	122	988
April	159	1,182
May	200	1,467
June	229	1,689
July	292	1,478
August	220	1,455
September	176	1,308
October	108	2,010

The amounts shown are rounded to the nearest whole £.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which countries are recorded as having endemic foot and mouth disease; [217533]

(2) what steps are taken to prevent direct or indirect imports from countries which have endemic foot and mouth disease. [217534]

Mr. Bradshaw: Defra does not hold separately, a list of countries that are recorded as having endemic foot and mouth disease (FMD). The internationally recognised central source for official information on the distribution of animal diseases such as FMD is the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). Also known as the World Organisation for Animal Health, the OIE is the world organisation responsible for the collection and dissemination of information on international animal health—it has a role analogous to the World Health Organisation (WHO):

Information on FMD can be found on their website, at the following address: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_fmd.htm.

Rather than listing countries in which FMD is considered to be endemic, the OIE lists countries and regions that are considered to be free of FMD, broken down into those that are free and do not vaccinate; and those that are free and do vaccinate against the disease.

European Community legislation permits the importation of meat from certain countries where FMD is present, but only where the disease is officially recognised as being restricted to specific areas and effective movement controls are in place within the country. Imports are permitted either from parts of the country that are free of disease or under strict conditions that ensure the meat does not come from any animal that may have come in contact with FMD before, during and after slaughter. These provisions are in line with the guidelines established by the OIE.

All meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. This must confirm that the meat is derived from animals which
 
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have been subjected to a veterinary inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter and showed no signs of FMD.

Community legislation does not permit imports of livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs and goats) from countries with FMD.

If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of animals and animal products from all, or parts, of that country.

All meat and animals imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated border inspection posts where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks. At least 20 per cent. of consignments of animal products undergo physical checks, and a number of animals in each consignment are physically checked. These checks ensure import conditions are met.

For personal imports meat and dairy products are banned from most countries outside the EU. Customs are responsible for enforcement at the border. Defra and Customs undertake publicity campaigns to make the public aware of the rules relating to personal food imports.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether the contiguous cull used in the last foot and mouth outbreak would be implemented in a future outbreak; [217540]

(2) whether vaccines would be used in a future outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [217614]

Mr. Bradshaw: The decision tree published as part of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) contingency plan on the Defra website sets out the factors that the Government would take into account in deciding disease control strategy including vaccination or different approaches to culling in a future outbreak. The disease control strategy adopted will depend on many factors.

The EU directive gives greater prominence to the potential use of emergency vaccination in the event of an outbreak as an adjunct to this basic slaughter policy. Article 14 of the directive places a duty on member states

to prepare all arrangements necessary for emergency vaccination in an area at least the size of the Surveillance Zone"

as soon as the first case of FMD is confirmed.

The Government will consider emergency vaccination as a disease control option from the start of any outbreak of FMD on the basis of vaccinate to live. The vaccines held by the UK are suitable for use in emergency vaccination. This is in line with the recommendations of the main FMD inquiries. The circumstances in which vaccination might be used are illustrated in the vaccination scenarios published last year on the Defra website.

The decision tree makes it clear that other forms of culling beyond that on infected premises and dangerous contacts are not ruled out.
 
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Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plan is in place in case of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and what elements of the plan drew on the experience of the outbreaks of 1967 and 2001. [217820]

Mr. Bradshaw: The measures that the Government would take in the event of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease are set out in the Defra FMD Contingency Plan, the latest version of which was laid before Parliament at the end of March 2004. These include the immediate imposition of movement controls on all susceptible livestock, strict biosecurity guidance and enhanced options for controlling disease. Vaccination would be considered from the onset of an outbreak in addition to the culling of all susceptible animals on infected premises and those that have been exposed to infection, as required by EU law.

We are engaging with operational partners and with stakeholders to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities and the measures that would be taken in an outbreak. Plans are also in place in the event of an outbreak to enable a rapid increase in resources and for the implementation of contingency contracts, including that for emergency vaccination. We have revised the instructions for staff and are ensuring that they are trained and equipped to deal with an outbreak of disease. A revised version of the contingency plan, incorporating lessons learned form the national Foot and Mouth Disease Exercise held last June, will be issued for public consultation shortly.

The current FMD contingency plan reflects lessons learned from the outbreaks of FMD in 1967 and 2001. The vast majority of the recommendations of the Northumberland Committee after the 1967 outbreak were applied during the 2001 outbreak. Such elements of the response in 2001 as bringing in senior administrators to allow vets to be relieved of non veterinary duties such as carcase disposal and cleansing and disinfection, and calling in the armed forces, resulted from the experiences of the 1967 outbreak and remain in the contingency plan. Lessons learned from 2001 and from the inquiries thereafter have resulted in the contingency plan including revised policies including the immediate imposition of a GB national movement ban on susceptible animals, closure of footpaths only within the 3 km protection zone and a hierarchy of disposal options for carcases headed by incineration and rendering. They have also led to the inclusion in the plan of senior management structures and systems that would be established in an outbreak.

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