Foot-and-mouth victims promised help

Rural hotels are bearing the brunt of the crisis

Tony Blair has pledged to look at all possibilities when examining ways in which the government can help a tourism industry blighted by the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Large parts of rural Britain have virtually been forced to shut down

William Hague

The crisis dominated the usually fiery exchanges between Mr Blair and opposition leader William Hague during weekly questions to the prime minister.

Mr Blair's comments came after Mr Hague suggested that the country was in the grip of a "national crisis".

The Conservative leader suggested that tourism businesses worst hit by the outbreak could be granted exemption from rates.

Hague called for compensation

Both Mr Hague and Mr Blair voiced gratitude to those involved in the fight against the disease.

Mr Hague said: "We have supported and continue to support the measures the government has taken but given that the spread of the disease is clearly not yet under control will you consider several additional measures to control it more tightly and use more of the available resources for dealing with it?"

Quicker slaughter

Among his suggestions, the Tory leader argued that animals could be slaughtered once a vet believed, on clinical evidence, that a case of foot-and-mouth had been positively identified rather than waiting for the outcome of a laboratory test.

Mr Blair replied: "It is the case that we are looking at how we step up the slaughter in those areas most directly affected.

"One of the issues here is that there are areas very seriously affected, there are other areas where fortunately, at present at any rate, there has been no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at all.

Sympathy for those hit by the crisis

He suggested that the government might consider easing restrictions in areas where the foot-and-mouth outbreak had not hit.

Mr Hague also suggested that student and retired vets could be deployed to help fight the crisis, as had happened in the 1967.

The prime minister replied that students, who were close to qualifying, were already being used.

Statement due

A statement on the crisis is to be delivered by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown in the Commons on Thursday.

Among the new measures that the government is introducing is a limited deployment of the army.

As the number of animals destined for slaughter escalates, more personnel will be required to deal with the disposal of the carcasses, which is one area where the military could help, said Mr Blair.

Other victims

Farmers are the obvious victims of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth but the effects of the crisis are now being felt across all manner of rural businesses.

Mr Hague said: "Large parts of rural Britain have virtually been forced to shut down.

"Hotels are facing closure as bookings are cancelled, some rural tourist attractions face bankruptcy."

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy urged the government to consider giving relief on tax and national insurance for affected businesses.

He said: "Could you ask the Treasury to speak to the Inland Revenue with a view to waiving this or giving a period of relief so that those who are going to and already are encountering a short term crisis financially might have a degree of relief."

Mr Blair said that the government was prepared to consider "all the measures necessary" to help those affected.

Financial help

"We have to look and see what financial and other help we can get to them as quickly as possible," he said.

"We also then, once the outbreak is dealt with, have to look and see how we can move the industry forward and get it recovered as quickly as possible."

Later, Culture Secretary Chris Smith, who is also responsible for tourism, said the cost of the epidemic could reach £250m a week if it continued into Easter and the main holiday season.