Blair ponders vaccine move

Tony Blair has taken a hands-on role in the crisis

Prime Minister Tony Blair has been briefed on the latest developments in the foot-and-mouth crisis following his return to London from the Easter break.

Mr Blair, who spent the weekend at Chequers, chaired a top-level meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon.

The government's chief vet, Jim Scudamore, and chief scientist professor David King joined Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and other ministers at the Downing Street talks.

Mr Blair has been trying to boost the tourism industry

A possible vaccination programme was on the agenda, it is understood, but a decision is unlikely before the end of the week.

The scheme would at first involve vaccinating hundreds of thousands of cattle currently in winter quarters in Cumbria and Devon, the two worst- affected areas.

The fear is that their imminent move to summer pastures which might be infected with foot-and-mouth might trigger a huge explosion in cases within a few weeks.

But farmers' leaders have warned they will not support the idea unless they can be persuaded it should be adopted and will not further damage the industry.

The threat by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) would in effect make the scheme unworkable.

It has demanded answers to a list of 50 written questions submitted to the government by its president, Ben Gill.

Market fears

The union said responses so far provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff), fell short of properly addressing key issues.

These included whether there would still be a market for meat and dairy products from vaccinated animals.

Policy director Martin Haworth said: "If it (vaccination) is delivered on the basis of what we have seen so far then we will not support it."

The Conservatives demanded "decisive action" on vaccination.

Tourism visit

Shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo said: "I understand that the decision to vaccinate is a very complicated issue.

"However, the government said they would make a decision on this some 18 days ago."

Tuesday also saw tourism and travel leaders from around the world start a red-carpet tour of regions affected by foot-and-mouth disease.

The initiative is aimed at boosting British tourism and tackling foreign misconceptions about the disease.