Government says it was not responsible for virus leak
Foot-and-mouth compensation pleas dismissed
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The UK Government has again rejected calls for farmers to be compensated for the impact of last year’s foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The latest dismissal was posted yesterday on the prime minister’s website, where 4,571 people had over recent months signed a petition calling for cash after the virus leak from the government-run Pirbright research site in Surrey wreaked havoc for livestock producers.
A statement from the prime minister’s office on the website said the government’s only obligation for compensation was over stock compulsorily killed to prevent the spread of disease.
It added: “It is a long-established principle that the government does not meet the costs of consequential losses which must be borne by the industry.”
The statement defended the government’s record in lifting the animal movement restrictions that were imposed as quickly as possible.
The PM’s office rejected the government was responsible for the leak, instead blaming the authorities at Pirbright for the biosecurity breach.
Angus MP Mike Weir renewed criticism of the government’s stance. He branded the website response a whitewash. “Scottish farmers and crofters suffered because of lapses at a laboratory in southern England. Quite clearly the UK Government was responsible for standards at the laboratory and its failure to accept any responsibility is reprehensible, but hardly surprising from this crumbling administration.”
NFU Scotland said the response was unsurprising. Its legal bid to recover costs continued.
