To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the movement to Wales of livestock ordinarily pastured on Welsh farms but temporarily pastured in the Shropshire bluetongue protection zone; and if he will make a statement. (174251)

DEFRA has worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and has had a range of discussions on this and a number of other issues concerning bluetongue.

It may be possible during a vector free period, should that be declared, to move animals out of the zone following pre-movement tests, at the farmers' expense.

The issue of whether to extend the bluetongue surveillance zone into Wales to enable free movement across the border is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly Government, but we are working closely to co-ordinate our disease control strategy to prevent the spread of bluetongue.