Originally from: Natalie
                        
This is the rest of the letter:-

Our policy already for provisions for exception and speedy local appeals to the Divisional Veterinary Manager. Many local appeals were upheld and the situation will remain and could be strengthened.

The fact however that some cases delayed by legal proceedings became infected premises. This happened in Devon, which ironically involved the only farm that won a High Court case against DEFRA.

Once an IP, neighbouring farms can be slaughtered as contiguous cases. If that farm had been culled out promptly, few animals might have been killed. While I have every sympathy with those who do not like a culling policy, to say the contiguous cull did not work is wrong on both the practical and scientific evidence.

Even a handful of delayed contiguous culls can have serious consequences. This outbreak started on one pig farm, currently being prosecuted, and was spread by just 16 adjacent sheep that went to market.

This is not to say that there may not be alternative approaches to future epidemics and the independent in quiries may have views on that.

Nothing in the Animal Health Bill commits the Government to any one approach. It is likely, however that even with vaccine use there will still have to be culling and speed is essential.

The Bill also strengthen powers of entry for vaccination and serology . Legal delays by a single farmer over blood testing led to a 14-day delay in lifting FMD restrictions in Devon, prolonging the problems for farmers that go with such limits on movements.

It is parochial to simply look at the Animal Health Bill in the context of Devon. I am glad to say FMD was stamped out in Devon faster than other areas – despite, I might go to say, the lurid and ridiculous ideas highlighted in the WMN that there would be a huge cull in Devon following the General Election.

There have been even bigger problems with legal delays in other parts of the country, than Devon and these new powers are simply to extend the options the Government has in any animal disease outbreak. It does not mean that they will automatically be used and co-operation is always better than confrontation.

The Bill also provides power to speed up the National Scapie Plan, which is very much in the interest of farmers and powers to provide a financial incentive to encourage the minority of farmers who have been involved inspreading FMD by poor bioseccurity by a reduction in their compensation if they are guilty of this. These are not controversial powers and we will be consulting on the details of their application.

It is in our interest of government to minimise culling and bring outbreaks under control as quickly as possible. The co-operation we have had from farming organisations and other groups is not reflected in the tone of the WMN.

the WMN deems that the Government is responsible for absolutely everything, gives you no recognition for the dedication of our local staff and the stressful and unpleasant work they had to do and argues that anyone who does not comply with the prejudices of the editorial is 'arrogant' and uncaring and the solution to every ill is resolved by large cash handouts.

Good regional papers do raise serious subject; are entitled to question policy, and the WMN has first-class journalists on its staff. All the greater shame that the paper's influence and credibility is undermined by the politically-motivated rants of its editorial.

The sad thing for the region is that the paper's attitude is so predictable it can hardly expect to be taken seriously by the Government or key decision – makers.

For our part we are always willing to engage, answer questions, take up issues, provide information and be prepared to be accountable for any action through media scrutiny.

The question for the WMN is whether it wants to use that process to inform its readers through informed reporting , or just carry on with politically motivated rants.

ELLIOT MORLEY MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary

That ias all of the Letter from Elliot Morley to the WMN – I will photcopy Barrie Williams's Editor, Western Morning New's reply. Please let me know the address to send it to.

NATALIE
riginal Message -----
From: ...

Originally from: Graham Woolridge <...>