Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

During a critical foot and mouth debate in plenary today, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Mick Bates will demand that the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government hold the UK to account. Mick will ask the Labour-Plaid coalition to agree that the UK Government is responsible for the recent outbreak of foot and mouth and must cough up on compensation for Welsh farmers.

“The effect of the foot and mouth outbreak has devastated our farmers in Wales who have suffered at the hands of the UK Government. The outbreaks came at a peak time as almost 70% of sheep are traded in Wales between August and December. Restrictions on trade have left farmers facing financial ruin.

“Since the moment that the foot and mouth virus escaped from the UK Government run research centre at Pirbright, the New Labour Government has been wholly responsible for the damage that has been done to our agricultural industry. Yet still the UK Labour Government refuse to use central government funding to compensate for its own lack of blatant disregard of biosecurity.

“I am still awaiting correspondence and minutes of meetings held between the Labour-Plaid coalition and the Westminster Government, to clarify whether Westminster did announce a £6.8million package for Welsh farmers and whether the Welsh Assembly Government did request a full support package from Westminster.

“I am deeply disappointed that the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government has been unable to persuade the Treasury to provide compensation for our farmers. The UK Government must admit that it is to blame and must cough up with a full financial package to save our Welsh livestock industry.

“Meanwhile Welsh farmers and their families continue to suffer as they are hit from all sides by the three diseases of foot and mouth, TB and Bluetongue. I hope that the UK Government will not leave them suffer in silence.”



End / Diwedd