'Severe risk' of Scots outbreak

An emergency statement was made to the Scottish Parliament

MSPs have been told there is a "severe risk" of the foot-and-mouth outbreak spreading to Scotland.

In an emergency statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie said that 41 farms were under supervision north of the border.

No cases have yet been confirmed in Scotland, although the ban on the movement of livestock is to be extended for a further two weeks.

The number of confirmed cases in England and Wales has risen to 24 with new outbreaks in Powys, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Devon.

Ross Finnie: Ban extended

A farm in Northern Ireland is also under investigation, while 1,500 sheep exported to Germany are being slaughtered amid fears the disease has spread to the continent.

Mr Finnie said Scotland remained at "severe risk" of developing an outbreak and said he had been co-operating with his opposite number in England in an attempt to prevent it spreading north of the border.

He said he was also awaiting results of tests currently being carried out at two farms in Dumfries and Galloway, at Canonbie and Lockerbie.

Investigators had also been called to carry out a test at a farm in Bo'ness, central Scotland.

Licensed movements

Mr Finnie said: "Our intention is that the present restriction on the movement of livestock will be extended on Friday for a further two weeks. I fully appreciate how serious a complete ban on movement for this further period will be.

"The chief veterinary office had advised in the light of the difficulties caused that licensed and strictly controlled movements of animals to slaughter may be safely permitted.

Jim Walker: Financial aid welcomed

"My officials are having discussions with the local authorities and police representatives today in order to discuss enforcement of this system.

"The new arrangements, which will come into effect on Friday, will allow Scottish meat to re-enter the food chain."

He added: "I am very grateful to the public as well for their co-operation and would ask them to carry on avoiding unnecessary visits to areas where livestock are kept.

"The more people keep away from livestock and livestock farms the better."

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman Alex Johnstone said: "May I express gratitude for the way the minister has dealt with this on a UK basis.

"There are no boundaries for an affliction such as foot-and-mouth."

Disaster aid

A scheme to provide financial aid for hard-pressed livestock farmers has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).

NFUS president Jim Walker said: "This avoids having to go through the painstaking procedures required by the European Union to pay disaster aid or specific compensation for the foot and mouth crisis.

"I must stress that this is not a compensation package for foot-and-mouth.

Farmers fear for their future

"Until we actually know the scale of the disaster and financial losses, it would be inappropriate to try and second-guess all the potential compensation claims."

He has called on the public to keep out of the countryside to prevent the virus from spreading.

Mr Walker said: "There is an awful long way for this outbreak to go if you look at the spread in England.

"We will be very, very, very lucky if it doesn't happen in Scotland over the next few days.

"We want people to stay away from the countryside and we want farmers to be extra vigilant because this disease has a very long way to run."

The union has also recommended farmers to stay away from the Six Nations rugby matches between Scotland and England on Friday and Saturday.