URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO COMBAT FOOT AND MOUTH AFTER EFFECTS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 19th Oct 2007

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Shadow Minister for Environment, has today again voiced his deep concern at the disregard shown to Scottish farmers and the lack of government compensation for farmers north of the border whose businesses are suffering because of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Jim Hume said:-

“We heard earlier in the week from Westminster that no compensation would be available from Whitehall for farmers in Scotland and the Scottish Government must now do everything possible to ensure a rescue package for Scottish agriculture.

“If Salmond and Lochhead are serious about supporting Scottish Farmers, then they would go ahead with a compensation scheme of their own, instead of trying to win points over the Labour party. Scottish Farmers are being used as pawns in this SNP versus Labour battle. That’s unfair for Scottish Farmers and the broader rural economy.

“Farmers in Scotland are facing a crisis and it’s galling to think that the outbreak came from a government licensed laboratory in the first place.

The MSP continued:-

“The Scottish Government pledged its support to the Scottish agricultural industry in its 2007 manifesto and it must help end the current financial disaster by providing financial help in order to meet that manifesto pledge.

“So far the SNP in Scotland and Labour in London have only contributed inaccurate information to the discussion. No one has taken responsibility. And whilst the political points scoring continues, Scottish farmers face financial ruin.

“I continue to press the case for Scottish farmers. The bottom line is that they are in desperate need of help and to think that neither Westminster nor the Scottish Government is prepared to pay is both incomprehensible and utterly reprehensible.”