Commenting on the confirmation today of a case of Bluetongue disease on the borders of East Surrey, local MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Peter Ainsworth said:
“These are very worrying times for livestock farmers in East Surrey and the surrounding area”.
Peter Ainsworth has condemned the Government for dithering over its bluetongue vaccination strategy after it emerged that Ministers have not yet started to discuss what funding may be on offer from the EU, despite an announcement by the European Commission last month that funds will be made available.
Mr Ainsworth went onto say:
“We are now well into February and farmers are starting to think about moving their stock out to grass. The issue of vaccination is absolutely critical before mass movements begin and yet rather than take decisive action the Government is dithering.
“We have known since January 16 that the European Commission will reimburse costs associated with bluetongue vaccination but Ministers haven’t even opened talks on how much might be available and on what terms.
“As a result farmers are completely in the dark and growing increasingly anxious. Unless the Government moves quickly to produce a vaccination strategy and clear guidance to farmers beating this disease becomes extremely difficult.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• For further information see:
• http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080208b.htm
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