NFU SCOTLAND TO SUPPORT DEVOLVING ANIMAL HEALTH BUDGET.
DEFRA CRITICISED ON ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL.
Western Isles SNP MSP Dr Alasdair Allan has welcomed a statement by NFU Scotland calling for the devolution of Scotland’s share of its animal health budget after a National Audit Office (NAO) report criticised Defra’s track record on financial reporting of animal disease control.
The report, by the NAO, condemns the way Defra presents its financial information in respect of animal health issues and also says that financial information from Defra cannot be used to calculate accurate figures for the full costs of managing specific animal diseases.
Commenting Dr Allan said: “I welcome this call from the NFUS. It is a timely reminder of how Scotland needs the means to tackle issues like this. “It is a timely reminder since three reports in 2002 highlighted that the devolved Scottish administration were better at dealing with the Foot & Mouth outbreak than Westminster and this report shows how we should have the financial means to tackle these issues.
“It is astonishing that Gordon Brown has suggested that responsibility for handling Foot & Mouth outbreaks could be taken over by Westminster. As this report shows that would be a backward step and it will astonish many farmers and crofters in Scotland if such a move were made. “As the NFUS has said - devolution of the animal health policy has worked well. Scotland is more than able to run its own affairs on animal health and welfare and this funding should be devolved as soon as possible.”
DEFRA CRITICISED ON ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL.
Western Isles SNP MSP Dr Alasdair Allan has welcomed a statement by NFU Scotland calling for the devolution of Scotland’s share of its animal health budget after a National Audit Office (NAO) report criticised Defra’s track record on financial reporting of animal disease control.
The report, by the NAO, condemns the way Defra presents its financial information in respect of animal health issues and also says that financial information from Defra cannot be used to calculate accurate figures for the full costs of managing specific animal diseases.
Commenting Dr Allan said: “I welcome this call from the NFUS. It is a timely reminder of how Scotland needs the means to tackle issues like this. “It is a timely reminder since three reports in 2002 highlighted that the devolved Scottish administration were better at dealing with the Foot & Mouth outbreak than Westminster and this report shows how we should have the financial means to tackle these issues.
“It is astonishing that Gordon Brown has suggested that responsibility for handling Foot & Mouth outbreaks could be taken over by Westminster. As this report shows that would be a backward step and it will astonish many farmers and crofters in Scotland if such a move were made. “As the NFUS has said - devolution of the animal health policy has worked well. Scotland is more than able to run its own affairs on animal health and welfare and this funding should be devolved as soon as possible.”
More info here,
1. The NFU Scotland release can be read here:
http://www.nfus.org.uk/news_
2. The Royal Society of Edinburgh's 'Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease in Scotland' (July 2002) said:
"The management of the FMD epidemic was considered by several of our witnesses to have been better handled in Scotland than in England." (Page 31)
3. The NFU Scotland Submission to the "Royal Society Inquiry - Infectious Diseases in Livestock" (Dated 10 December 2001) said:
"NFUS is of the view that the SVS should be devolved and in Scotland, be accountable to the Scottish Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department. We believe that this would allow better-informed decision-making and greater accountability. Diagnostic resources should therefore mirror this structure, although this would not preclude the sharing of resources with other administrations. Diagnostic facilities must be part of a European network." (Page 2)
4. BBC report on the official Lessons to be Learned Inquiry (22 July, 2002):
The official Lessons to be Learned Inquiry praised Scotland while pointing to "gaps" in the plan designed to combat the virus in other parts of the UK.
The report said: "Contingency planning had been more systematic and the disease did not spread so far.
"Key problems were identified early and dealt with quickly."
The government-commissioned inquiry, chaired by Dr Iain Anderson, also praised the way that Dumfries and Galloway Council quickly brought the epidemic under control.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/
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