Britain to open foot-and-mouth probe
An independent inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis in the British county worst-hit by the disease was due to begin today.
Nearly half of all last year’s cases were in Cumbria, with more than a million livestock culled involving 3,000 farms.
The hearing was being held at County Offices in Kendal and will last four days.
The inquiry was being chaired by Professor Phil Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Agricultural College and Professor of Agriculture at Glasgow University.
Prof Thomas will be joined on the inquiry panel by nine independent experts drawn from various backgrounds including a farmer, a vicar, a businessman and a tourist expert.
The inquiry will focus on specific areas including outbreak and control issues, impact on the economy, the aftermath of the disease and future strategies.
Evidence will be heard from a wide range of people and organisations including a brigadier, the National Farmers’ Union and business leaders.
After the inquiry in Kendal, a further four-day hearing will be held in Carlisle beginning on May 28.
In addition to the formal evidence, the panel will spend three days travelling around Cumbria to look at the impact the crisis had on farms and businesses.
It is expected the panel’s report will be published in July and will be considered by Cumbria County Council and the Cumbria Foot & Mouth Disease Task Force.
The European Parliament Temporary Committee on Foot-and-Mouth has also agreed it will consider the evidence from Cumbria.
