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George, Andrew (2)
Answering member
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department first received (a) a video and (b) other documentary evidence from Northumberland Trading Standards Department in respect of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak at Heddon-on-the-Wall.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department first received (a) a video and (b) other documentary evidence from Northumberland Trading Standards Department in respect of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak at Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Asked by
Andrew George
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Ben Bradshaw
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
30 November 2004
For answer on
19 January 2005
Answered on
19 January 2005
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department first received (a) a
video and (b) other documentary evidence from Northumberland Trading Standards Department in respect of the 2001 foot and
mouth disease outbreak at Heddon-on-the-Wall. [202040]
Mr. Bradshaw: Defra has no record of being sent a copy of the video by Northumberland county council before February 2003. We have
not received any other documentary evidence from the council.
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Evidence; Disease control; Foot and mouth disease; Ministers; Video recordings; Trading standards; Northumberland; Northumberland County Council
Date
19 January 2005
Reference
202040; 429 c938W;429 c942W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the (i) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (ii) her Department had been informed of the existence of the (A) James Dring Report, (B) Northumberland Trading Standards video and report,...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the (i) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (ii) her Department had been informed of the existence of the (A) James Dring Report, (B) Northumberland Trading Standards video and report,...
Asked by
Andrew George
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Ben Bradshaw
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
30 November 2004
For answer on
19 January 2005
Answered on
19 January 2005
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether (a) Ministers and
(b) officials in the (i) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (ii) her Department had been informed of the
existence of the (A) James Dring Report, (B) Northumberland Trading Standards video and report, (C) scientific test samples sent to
Pirbright and (D) results of those test samples, in respect of the Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, foot and mouth disease
outbreak in 2001, (1) prior to and (2) during the period of the Dr. Iain Anderson FMD Inquiry in 2001-02; [202036]
(2) whether the (a) James Dring Report, (b) Northumberland Trading Standards video and report, (c) scientific
test samples sent to Pirbright and (d) results of those test samples in respect of the Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall,
foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 were (i) supplied to the Chairman of the Lessons to be Learned Inquiry in 2001 and (ii) the
subject of minuted informal meetings in (A) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (B) her Department in (1) 2001 and
(2) 2002; [202037]
(3) what assessment was made of the suitability of the (a) James Dring Report, (b) Northumberland Trading Standards
video and report, (c) scientific test samples sent to Pirbright and (d) results of those test samples in respect of
the Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall, foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001, to be forwarded to Dr Iain Anderson for his inquiry
in 2001-02. [202038]
Mr. Bradshaw: Ministers were briefed about and had access to Mr. Dring's personal statement in the week beginning 8 March
2004. Officials knew about Mr. Dring's statement prior to and during the period of the FMD 2001: Lessons to be Learned Inquiry,
chaired by Dr. Iain Anderson
Mr. Dring's personal statement was not submitted to the Lessons to be Learned Inquiry, as there was concern that the contents would
have been prejudicial to Mr. Waugh's trial at which Mr. Dring was a witness of fact, rather than an expert witness, had the
statement received publicity beforehand. The contemporaneous notes of Mr. Dring's visits to Burnside were given to Dr. Anderson. Mr.
Dring also contributed fully to the investigations on the origins of the foot-and mouth (FMD) outbreak 2001, submitted by the then
Chief Veterinary Officer to the Inquiry. This Origins of FMD report was based on wide-ranging evidence and rigorous investigation
and was published by Dr. Anderson. Defra has no record of minutes of informal meetings being made or submitted to the inquiry.
Ministers and Dr. Anderson have said it was regrettable that the Mr. Dring's statement was not sent to the inquiry. However, Dr.
Anderson has stated that had he seen Mr. Dring's statement at that time it would not have changed any conclusions or recommendations
of his inquiry.
The circumstances surrounding Mr. Dring's visit to Burnside Farm were discussed with the Lessons Learned Inquiry Team on
4 March 2002; a note of the meeting was also published by Dr. Anderson.
Defra has known about the video since it was first being made in so far as a Veterinary Officer was present on Burnside Farm on
24 February 2001, when filming took place. We have no record of Ministers being expressly informed of the existence of the
video until recently. The Under-Secretary of State (Lords) became aware of the video when extracts were shown in the television news
media at the time of Robert Waugh's trial in May 2002. It was brought to Ministers' attention again as a result of the media and
parliamentary interest in the video that was generated by the Farmers Weekly
in October this year. I am not aware of any associated report written by Northumberland county council.
The report of the FMD 2001: Lessons to be Learned Inquiry, chaired by Dr. Iain Anderson, was published on 22 July 2002. Defra
has no record of being sent a copy of the video by Northumberland county council before February 2003. Northumberland county council
did not release any copies of the video before the trial of Mr. Waugh in May 2002, after Dr. Anderson had stopped receiving evidence
for his Lessons to be Learned Inquiry.
Officials were aware made aware of the scientific tests results on the samples taken at Burnside Farm, as soon they were available,
resulting in Defra confirming disease on Burnside farm on 23 February. Details of the samples and the results of the tests
are set out in the Origins of FMD report submitted to the Anderson Inquiry.
As set out in the Origins of FMD report, samples were taken at Burnside Farm on 22 February, which included epithelium
samples from two pigs and 20 blood samples taken from other pigs on the premises. On 24 February further sampling was carried
out when FMD experts from the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright and an epidemiological team from Defra visited the farm.
88 per cent. of the 241 pigs blood sampled on that day were seropositive for FMD Type O antibodies.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 13 December about the video of Burnside Farm.
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Evidence; Inspections; Disease control; Foot and mouth disease; Pigs; Ministers; Testing; Video recordings; Trading standards; Veterinary services; Northumberland; Lessons Learned from Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak Inquiry; Northumberland County Council
Date
19 January 2005
Reference
429 c935-8W;429 c939-42W; 202036;202037;202038
House
House of Commons