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Foot and Mouth Disease: Wiltshire

Volume 469: debated on Tuesday 11 December 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the compensation allocated to farmers following the foot and mouth crisis in August has been allocated to Wiltshire. (171022)

The Animal Health Act 1981 and Human Rights legislation requires that compensation is paid for animals compulsorily killed and property compulsorily destroyed to prevent the spread of disease. Therefore, as there was no foot and mouth disease in Wiltshire, no compensation has been paid to farmers there.

As part of the £12.5 million support package announced on 8 October, farmers in Wiltshire will benefit from the £2 million allocated to promote the sales of lamb, beef and pork domestically and in our export markets, which we are doing all we can to return to normal within the EU by January. They will also have access to the support provided through a donation of up to £1 million to the Arthur Rank Centre for disbursement to Farming Help charities, which provide advice and practical and emotional support to farming families.