UK Government whitewash over foot and mouth

Angus SNP MP, Mike Weir, has today condemned the UK Government for its failure to accept any responsibility for last year’s outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in southern England, which caused huge financial problems for many Scottish farmers.

The outbreak occurred because of lapses in biosecurity at the Pirbright laboratory in Surrey.

Mr Weir was reacting to the government’s response to the petition on the 10 Downing Street website, which was published today.

Mr Weir said:

"The UK Government’s response is a complete whitewash and follows on their disgraceful actions in withdrawing a proposed compensation package for Scottish farmers when Gordon Brown decided to abandon last Autumn’s election.

"Scottish farmers and crofters suffered because of lapses at a laboratory in Southern England. UK Ministers are hiding behind the claim that they were only the regulators of the site. Quite clearly the government were responsible for standards at the laboratory and their failure to accept any responsibility is reprehensible, but hardly surprising from this crumbling administration.

"Thank goodness we have a Scottish Government that was prepared to step in and help Scotland’s farmers. It is high time all aspects of agricultural policy were transferred to the Scottish Parliament where such matters are taken seriously."