Westminster fails to earn the trust of the farming industry

Published on Friday 8 February 2008 21:30

THE battle to secure meaningful compensation for farmers who suffered losses following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) last year in Surrey stepped up a gear yesterday when a delegation from NFU Scotland delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street.

In spite of the outbreak involving only a handful of confirmed cases, the consequential losses were colossal, perhaps at least 100 million for the red-meat sector and associated industries in Scotland. The pain is still being felt, despite the Scottish Government stepping in with a 25m emergency aid package.

Andy Robertson, the chief executive of NFUS, speaking from London, said: "The Scottish livestock industry was shut down for two months at the most crucial time of the year – the annual round of autumn sales of sheep and cattle. It has cost businesses across rural Scotland tens of millions of pounds and particularly given the source of this outbreak in 2007, we believe that there is a clear duty on the UK government to compensate.

"The containment of the disease was extremely successful because the 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 also jeopardises the partnership required in future."

Late last year Jim McLaren, the president of NFUS, held a lengthy meeting with Hilary Benn, the UK Environment Secretary, where he was told that the "door was still open" if he could come up with accurate figures on which to base a claim for compensation.

Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet secretary for rural affairs in Scotland, clearly believes there is a strong case for compensation. In an interview in Farmers' Weekly he said: "I have no doubt whatsoever that the UK government has the moral and political responsibility to recompense the Scottish industry's losses. It's important for the UK government to recognise its responsibilities given the circumstances of the outbreak in the south of England."

It is generally accepted that the source of the outbreak was a government-owned laboratory at Pirbright in Surrey where research was being undertaken into FMD. However, that has never yet been conceded by the UK government while calls for a full public inquiry have also been resisted.

However, the Scottish Government was quick to initiate its own investigations under Dr Iain Anderson, who conducted the inquiry into the 2001 epidemic.

In the report, which was published in July 2002, Anderson said: "One finding of this inquiry has been the extent of the breakdown in trust between many of those affected directly or indirectly and their government. Similarly, central government must regain the confidence of, and work more in partnership, with local government."

If Whitehall does accede to the claim for compensation in Scotland, then Wales and England will demand similar treatment.