Memorandum submitted by the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
FOOT AND MOUTH: VIDEO OF BURNSIDE FARM, HEDDON-ON-THE-WALL
Letter from the Chairman of the Committee
to the Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, 17 November 2004
At its meeting last week, members of the Committee
watched the video of Robert Waugh's Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall,
made by Northumberland trading standards officers in February
2001. As you can imagine, the Committee were shocked by the conditions
shown in the video, but we did not believe that the video in itself
warranted a new inquiry by the Committee. However, the Committee
did conclude that it needed more information to inform its understanding
of the debate around the video, and agreed that I should write
to you seeking such information.
It would be helpful to have a note amplifying
the public statements already made by Defra both to the media
and in response to Parliamentary questions on the issue, addressing
any issues raised by the video that you believe are relevant.
In particular, the Committee would like information on why the
farm's licence was renewed; clarification of the inspection regime
in operation at the time the farm's swill feeding licence was
renewed; the criteria used to judge whether the farm met appropriate
standards; and how the licensing system has changed since the
foot and mouth outbreak. Finally I note from a recent written
answer (Official Report, 9 November, col 576W) that Defra
officials saw "part of" the video when it was shown
at Robert Waugh's trial in May 2002, and obtained a copy on 30
September 2004. Can you confirm when Ministers first became aware
of the existence and content of the video; and if they have viewed
it?
I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Rt Hon Michael Jack MP
Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee
November 2004
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