Stratford MP John Maples has
called for the government to introduce a scheme to allow farmers to
move animals short distances.
Speaking in the House of
Commons, the Conservative MP said some farmers have to make several
journeys a day down roads to tend to lambs.
He told Agriculture Minister
Nick Brown that this was more likely to spread infection than if the
farmer was allowed to bring the lambs back closer to the farm.
He said:
“Farmers whose sheep are a
mile or two, or even less than that, from their farms have to make
several road journeys each day to look after them, feed them and
perhaps take care of the lambs.
“That involves a risk of
spreading infection. Perhaps undertaking one journey to bring sheep
back to the farm would be less of a risk.
“I realise that the
Minister has to protect against any possibility of the disease
spreading, but I hope that he will take those factors into account
in making his decision.”
Mr Brown replied:
“The Hon Gentleman makes a
shrewd point. On each journey, it is necessary to disinfect the
vehicles being used and to do so thoroughly.
“It
might be better, even for disease control measures, to have a
localised movement scheme; and the case that he advances is one
reason why we are closely considering such a scheme.”
