News

Pressure on the Government to relax restrictions on livestock hauliers during the continuing foot and mouth crisis appeared to be bearing fruit this week, as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted to allow movement wherever it was safe.

A spokeswoman says that Defra wants to allow "as many people as possible to move as much as possible everywhere". But livestock hauliers have to apply  individually for licences to move animals at the moment, with different rules for different animals and different areas. Details are on the Defra website.

Hilary Benn, Defra's secretary of state, says that although the priority is to eradicate the disease he accepts that farmers and livestock hauliers are facing a difficult time. He adds: "The best way to relieve the economic and welfare problems facing the industry is to make progress in allowing movement of animals in areas of Great Britain based on an assessment of risk."

Among those pressing for a relaxation of the restrictions is the devolved Scottish Government, which argues problems are particularly acute in Scotland. First Minister Alex Salmond warns that sheep could be "dying from starvation on the hills unless something is done now".

Salmond adds that people are also being badly affected. He says: "There is mounting evidence that many farmers are reaching  a high state of anxiety about the future and I am very concerned about resulting mental health problems and potential human tragedies involving those who see no future ahead of them."