Farm aid package likely within days

Rare breeds in infected areas could escape slaughter

A recovery plan for the UK's beleaguered farmers could be unveiled by the end of this week, says the government.

The news came as Agriculture Minister Nick Brown began talks with European Union officials in Brussels on establishing an aid package.

Speaking before the meeting on Monday, Mr Brown said: "I need to discuss a range of measures. If there is something we wish to do it will have to be cleared with the Commission."

Junior agriculture minister Baroness Hayman said the government was still examining a number of options.

Rare breeds plan

She also said there were plans to save rare breeds from slaughter, although any animals infected with foot-and-mouth disease would be killed.

"In particular circumstances where a unique genetic breed would be lost, we are looking at ways to see if there is anything we can do," she said.

Officials are still drawing up plans to use soldiers to help in organising animal movements and slaughter under supervision from ministry of defence officials.

Student vets are also to be drafted in to help make up the shortfall of available expertise.

Hayman: Considering range of aid options

Deputy chief veterinary officer Martin Atkinson revealed there were now only 220 vets from the state veterinary service working in the field, compared with about 400 at the time of the 1967 foot-and-mouth crisis.

Mr Atkinson said 120 final-year students would work alongside trained vets in spotting the disease and he hoped the number would rise to 200.

'Unprecedented challenge'

He said the state veterinary service faced an "unprecedented challenge" but students and vets from overseas were still volunteering to come to Britain.

Mr Atkinson said he knew of no confirmed reports of farmers deliberately infecting their livestock to obtain compensation.

He said any such cases would be taken seriously, as would the illegal movement of animals.

Baroness Hayman said ministers were considering making inspectors available for each livestock movement but stressed that farmers had an interest in policing themselves to stop the disease spreading.

She added: "I think we do take seriously any breaking of the strict regulations designed to halt the spread of the disease.

"That is why we have been cautious about licensing any movements, because we recognise that an absolute standstill is easier to enforce for the police and local authorities."