David Heath calls for information on foot-and-mouth
12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007
Farmers must be given more information on foot-and-mouth
David Heath today called on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to improve its communication with farmers over the current foot-and-mouth crisis.
Mr. Heath says that many farmers across the country and certainly ones he has met over the last two days are having to rely on incomplete information from radio and television and have received no direct information from DEFRA.
Mr. Heath has today written to Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, following meetings with farmers in the Martock area this morning.
David Heath said: "The new outbreak of foot-and-mouth couldn't be worse news for livestock farmers and would spell disaster for the industry. Most of us thought that the previous incident had been contained but now it is clear that we still have a major problem.
"I understand the difficulties faced by government officials but surely it is a priority to make sure that every livestock owner, both those in the industry and those keeping a small number of animals, know what preventative measures have been taken; what it is now illegal for them to do; and what signs and symptoms they should be looking for in their own livestock.
"I am very concerned that whether or not the reaction to the outbreak from the Department is adequate, the flow of information to local farmers certainly is not."
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