Foot-and-mouth Disease
The next item of business is an emergency ministerial statement by Richard Lochhead on foot-and-mouth disease. As the minister will take questions at the end of his statement, there should be no interventions. I will allow one question from each of the main parties and, depending on the time available, I might allow questions from other members.
It is with enormous regret that I make a statement to alert Parliament to a new case of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey. Today's development comes only days after we were able to lift the few remaining movement restrictions that were implemented following the previous outbreak of disease, which was confirmed on 3 August. That had been an important step for our livestock industry and the red meat sector on their route back to normality.
Today's confirmation of disease is a gut-wrenching body blow for the Scottish livestock industry and the red meat sector. I have been in touch with many representatives of the industry throughout the day and will update them again at a stakeholder meeting at 6 pm this evening. Clearly, I and my officials will do everything we can to support the industry during such a devastating time. I must again pay tribute to the industry for its responsible and reasonable response to the latest developments.
There is considerable uncertainty as to the origins of the disease. I must stress that at this stage we do not know what strain of the foot-and-mouth disease virus is involved, so our actions must be precautionary. The Animal Health agency and officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are conducting an immediate investigation into the source and strain of the virus concerned.
Given the uncertainty about the source and spread of the disease, I have, from 3 pm today, on veterinary advice, reintroduced a movement ban. Just as last week I indicated how we had learned lessons from the 2001 outbreak, I assure Parliament today that we will continue to learn from the most recent outbreak and, in the difficult days ahead, to apply what we have learned. It is ironic that, today, I was due to meet Professor Scudamore to discuss the scope of the review into the most recent outbreak. Although I met him briefly earlier, our discussion was focused on today's events.
Unlike the movement ban that was imposed as a result of the outbreak of disease in August, the ban that I have announced today will—on the firm basis of the veterinary advice that I have received—allow a number of movements to continue to occur. The movement of dairy cows across public highways for milking, the movement of animals for emergency veterinary treatment and the movement of animals direct to slaughter can, subject to the meeting of specific conditions such as supervision, all continue.
Scotland's islands will remain free of restrictions on movements within and between the islands, but no movements will be allowed between the islands and the mainland. All further movement restrictions will be kept under daily review and will be lifted as soon as possible.
The latest outbreak is extremely harrowing news and it will have a particular impact on animal gatherings, including markets. We acknowledge that it will have a huge impact on events that have been planned for the next few days and that the impact will be greater than simply the cancellation of those events. For example, the cancellation of the Kelso ram sale could have implications for next year's lamb crop. However, given the risk of disease spread from animals coming from and going to a number of separate locations, we cannot afford to allow such events to go ahead during a period of such uncertainty. I fully recognise the disruption that the measure will cause for the industry, but I know that it understands that it is an essential step.
As an immediate task, the Scottish Government's centre of epidemiological excellence at the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Agricultural College have been commissioned to analyse movements to Scotland from Surrey and the immediate area, which will allow us to establish the likelihood of disease spread to Scotland. At this stage, I must continue to stress the uncertainty surrounding the source and spread of the outbreak. I reiterate that only such analysis can help us safely lift restrictions to maintain the long-term viability of Scotland's industry.
The Scottish Government is actively working to protect Scotland's livestock sector and to minimise disruption. My officials have been working with stakeholders throughout the day to keep them informed of developments and to ensure that they are able to take precautions and appropriate steps to protect their interests. At 12.30 this afternoon, the Scottish Government foot-and-mouth helpline was activated, the number for which is 0845 1553366. Regular updates are available on the foot-and-mouth pages of the Scottish Government website. I encourage members to pass those details on to their constituents so that they can be kept fully up to date.
As with any outbreak, there will be increased incidences of reporting of disease due to the increased vigilance of our livestock keepers. All such reports are investigated by our veterinary professionals. Members may be aware of a reported case today at Lanark market. I assure colleagues that that reported case is being investigated and that we will pass on any further information as soon as possible, although I emphasise that a number of cases of foot-and-mouth in Scotland were reported last month and all proved to be negative. We continue to encourage all livestock keepers in Scotland to report any suspicion of disease in their livestock.
The Scottish Government's emergency room procedures have again been activated and the Scottish Government continues to work closely in partnership with the other United Kingdom Administrations. I have been in regular contact with DEFRA ministers today and I participated in the 3 pm Cabinet Office briefing room—COBR—call, which was chaired by the Prime Minister. During the call, I alerted the Prime Minister to this statement and outlined our response in Scotland. I thank DEFRA for its prompt response to the most recent outbreak, and particularly for the swiftness of its alert to my officials. I will continue to remain in contact with DEFRA during the coming days.
The new outbreak is very unwelcome and of real concern. There is the maximum level of uncertainty about the source and spread of the disease. I assure members that the Scottish Government is treating the matter extremely seriously and will continue to do all that it can to minimise disruption in Scotland. Restrictions will be lifted as soon as it is possible and safe to do so and I will do my best to ensure that members are kept up to date with developments.
We have about eight minutes for questions, so I will call a member from each of the main parties and then see where time has taken us.
As the cabinet secretary said, the new outbreak will be a tremendous blow to everyone who is involved in the industry. People were just getting back to business as usual after the most recent outbreak. Will the cabinet secretary keep the Parliament fully informed on all developments and his work with UK ministers to prevent further spread of the disease, as he did during the summer outbreak?
In the light of the situation in Lanark, will the cabinet secretary also agree to meet me and the local member, Karen Gillon, tomorrow, to update us on the information that he has and to tell us what action he intends to take? I realise that there is a developing situation in that regard.
I welcome the cabinet secretary's commissioning of research into restrictions on cattle movements. Will he share the findings with the Parliament as soon as they are available? Precautionary action needs to be taken, but it must be taken on the basis of good evidence.
I thank Sarah Boyack for her constructive comments and questions. I intend to keep the Parliament informed at every opportunity. I have already raised with my officials the prospect of a briefing for members tomorrow at some point.
On the reported case in Lanark, we will ensure that the relevant members are made aware of the results as soon as they become available, which we hope will be later today. I will make every effort to keep all members up to date on developments during the coming days.
I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance copy of his statement and I declare an interest, as an affected farmer.
I put on the record my dismay that foot-and-mouth disease has returned and express my fear that the outbreak is unlikely to be confined to Surrey, given the incubation period of the disease. The disease has almost certainly been in the affected group of cattle for some time. Given the proximity of the M3 and the M25, which are only a few hundred metres away from the affected area, the potential for spread is enormous.
I welcome the cabinet secretary's prompt response to the Parliament, the COBR meeting and the ban. I regret to say that I fear that even if the disease is again contained in the south of England, the movement restrictions that are now in place will cause further damage to the most vulnerable parts of Scotland's livestock industry—lamb, pork and beef production.
Will the cabinet secretary assure us that action will be taken to reduce the problems that occur if there is a shortage of winter keep? Will he also assure us that everything possible will be done to sort out the huge problem of the livestock that are at marts throughout Scotland as we speak—from Castle Douglas and Lanark to Dingwall?
We are taking action to ensure that animals at sales can return to their farms or go to the place of their buyers, to minimise disruption. Work on that is in hand as we speak.
On the wider impact on the agriculture sector in Scotland, we will meet stakeholders at 6 pm, as I said. Of course we will discuss all the implications that they face in the days and weeks ahead.
If there is one piece of good news, it is perhaps that restrictions south of the border in the Surrey area, in the previous surveillance zone, were lifted only at the weekend, so research on animal movements in that area can at least be restricted to the period from the weekend until today.
I thank the minister for the four-minute notice of his statement. If such a situation arises again, might he possibly give greater notice?
Unbelievable.
Never mind that the First Minister is saying "unbelievable"; that is what happened and it is not on.
It is essential to identify quickly whether this is a new strain of the foot-and-mouth virus or whether it matches that which was being worked on at the Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright and the previous outbreak. We need to know whether this is an entirely new outbreak so that we can take the appropriate action. We need to know those facts as quickly as possible. I would appreciate the minister confirming that he will follow up quickly on what he has said.
I had hoped that the member would appreciate that we felt that it was very important to bring this urgent statement to the Parliament at the current time.
The important investigations into the strain of the outbreak are on-going. We all want to be made aware of that fundamental piece of information as soon as possible. I hope that it will come in the next day or two. We need to have that information as soon as possible. Those investigations are, of course, a priority for DEFRA at the current time.
I received a copy of the statement only two minutes before the cabinet secretary gave it to the Parliament, but I am not complaining: I realise the pressure he is under.
The dismay in the agriculture community will be tempered by the speed and efficiency with which the Government acted at the time of the previous outbreak. I am glad that the cabinet secretary is consulting on the likelihood of the spread of the disease to Scotland. If the outcome of the consultation is favourable, is there a possibility that he will consider moving more quickly to lift movement restrictions within Scotland?
Two issues are involved: first, the ability to announce relaxations as soon as we put the movement ban in place today will mean minimal disruption for some sectors of the industry at least; secondly, the wider review. I had a discussion today with Professor Scudamore, who is, of course, highly respected. He is determined to take on board issues such as those that Alasdair Morgan raised.
I echo John Scott's concerns and welcome the fact that movement on and between islands will be permitted. As the cabinet secretary is aware, Orkney and Shetland are in the midst of the major cattle and lamb sales, at which time a stock boat is hired for a limited period to assist in the process. Will the cabinet secretary assure me and Tavish Scott that he will make urgent arrangements to extend the stock boat contract? Will the transport needs of the farming industry in Orkney and Shetland be fully met?
I thank Liam McArthur for his important point. I would be happy to discuss the issue with him after the statement, to see how we can take the matter forward.
I join other members in thanking the cabinet secretary for his statement and for his speedy response to the situation. I, too, wish to draw attention to the situation in the islands and, in particular, to concerns about this second disruption to the life and work of crofting communities. Will the cabinet secretary indicate, even at this early stage, what his attitude is to allowing crofters to move livestock to sales on the mainland at some stage in future? What is his attitude to the unusual situation that the islands have in that respect?
I thank Alasdair Allan for his question. Our ability to reduce the restrictions will greatly depend on the veterinary advice that I will, understandably, have to take on board. It will also depend on the outcome of the investigations into the tracing of animals from the area that is currently the subject of the new surveillance zone.
I apologise to the members I have been unable to call. Time is against us.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer, and considering the serious nature of the issue, surely the more serious the issue, the more notice MSPs on the front benches should receive, so that they can interrogate the Government. Will you look into the protocols that have been established over the past eight years, as they no longer seem to have effect?
I do not need to do that, Mr Rumbles. How cabinet secretaries and ministers go about that procedure is entirely up to them.