EU Inquiry - Letter from MEP

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
The following letter from the MEP Neil Parrish, has been forwarded to me by the FMD Forum –

"I would like to clarify some of the information that has so far appeared concerning the European Parliament's Committee into Foot and Mouth disease. As both a farmer, and as Conservative Agriculture spokesman, I have regularly consulted websites, which contain some very useful information. However, I hope you will allow me to clarify the Conservative position.

Firstly, no one suggests that what we are doing in the European Parliament compensates for a full public inquiry in the UK. Conservative MEPs are absolutely committed to a UK public inquiry, but to date, Mr Blair shows absolutely no signs of listening to the people, and so we have to look at other ways of getting at the truth. The Parliaments committee does offer an opportunity to get at the facts, and may we hope, eventually provide enough damming evidence to force Mr Blair to hold an inquiry in the UK.

It is true that it was Conservative MEPs who initiated this effort, and it is also true that in the face of massive opposition from Labour we were able to gather overwhelming support to set up the inquiry.

The committee will sit for a full 12 months, and is still in the early stages. Even so, we have highlighted many areas of concern, and asked a lot of searching questions. Firstly, the whole legality of the contiguous cull is now seriously being examined. As a direct result of questions from the Committee, we are now awaiting clarification from Commissioner Byrne as to the legal position. In addition, we have had confirmed from Government Ministers (Brown, Whitty and Morley), that the Government failed in a number of key areas. The cull targets of 24 and 48 hours were never reached, and Lord Whitty confirmed that it was taking up to 7 days to slaughter infected animals at some stages. This blows a whole in the Governments suggestion that farmers fighting the cull lead to the spread. We have also heard first hand of the Government's intention to take emergency powers to conduct a mass cull, should the draconian animal health bill be rejected. We have discovered some of the role big business and the NFU took in dictating the decision not to vaccinate, and that the Government has done absolutely nothing concrete to tighten import controls.

All of this has happened from only two full meetings of the Committee. In addition and just as importantly, the Committee has heard damming evidence from farmers, vets and solicitors who were actually affected by this Governments handling of the outbreak. It is just as important if not more so to hear direct accounts of the outbreak from those who suffered the most. In the coming months, we will have an opportunity to hear from key witnesses such as Professor Fred Brown on the rights and wrongs of a vaccination policy, as well as conducting a hearing on importation controls.

I would also like to clear up one further point. Like Mrs Lucas, I am outraged that in order to try and prevent the Committee from getting to the truth, the Labour party attempted to block any public meetings taking place. It is clear that they obviously have a great deal to hide. However, this does not mean that the public cannot attend the meetings in the UK. All meetings of the European Parliament are open to the public, anyone can simply come along and listen and I would urge you to do so. Disappointingly, only the meeting in Gretna will allow the public to make contributions from the floor, but anyone may attend the other scheduled meetings.

There is to be another visit to the South West of England and Wales in June of this year, providing the opportunity for further representatives to give evidence to the committee. I would also urge people to submit written evidence to the committee as soon as possible. I can be contacted at ..., and am more than happy to forward evidence on to the committee, or alternatively, submissions can be made via our website http://www.epp-ed.org/Activities/pcurrentissues/fmd/default_en.asp

I would also point out of that a number of people have already given evidence and have already been able to give evidence to the committee. Whilst not the perfect tool, the committee is attempting to discover the truth, and has an important part to play. It must be remembered that changes in policy on vaccination, and on meat importation controls can only be made at a European level, and it is in Europe that we must get the message across that urgent action is needed.

Yours sincerely,

Neil Parish MEP"

So do attend the meetings if you can, although of course those that are held on farms would be by the invitation of the farmer.

If you are able to attend any meetings and are able to do so, it would be very useful if they could be recorded or video filmed for the record!
                        

Originally from: Kittra
                        
I think the fact that nobody even knows about the MEP's visit here or even the fact that they can attend meetings speaks volumes. A re-run of all the other Govt Inquiries; don't tell the victims, they might come along and complain. Having just a piffling little public meeting in the middle of nowhere just emphases the fact that they don't really expect anyone to turn up. Ignorance is bliss if you want to keep things away from public scrutiny!

Elaine

-----Original Message-----
 From: ... [...]
 Sent: 17 April 2002 18:18
 To: ...
 Subject: EU Inquiry – Letter from MEP

 Hello there!

 I have just received the following letter from the MEP Neil Parrish, forwarded to me by the FMD Forum –