-Caveat Lector- From http://www.guardian.co.uk/footandmouth/story/0,7369,532973,00.html >>>Items listed in the "Related Articles" section at the end are actually hot linques. A<>E<>R <<< }}>Begin 2.45pm update Compensation rumours spark farmers' anger Special report: foot and mouth disease Monday August 6, 2001 The Guardian Farmers' leaders today defended multi-million pound compensation payments to farms hit by foot and mouth disease as parliament launched two investigations into the cost of the epidemic. At least 37 farmers have been promised compensation of more than £1m after their herds were slaughtered by vets seeking to eradicate the disease. The foot and mouth outbreak has cost Britain almost £2bn so far. Allegations that farmers have made false claims will be examined as part of the inquiry by the National Audit Office spending watchdog. The probe will also look into ministers' response to the outbreak. The Commons' public accounts committee will also investigate the epidemic. A Labour MP who sits on the parliamentary committee, Alan Williams, said that corruption was likely because of the scale of the compensation scheme. "Given the number of valuers involved, the number of slaughtermen involved and the number of incidents it would be surprising if there weren't some problems," Mr Williams said. Farmers are incensed at such claims. Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers had "nothing to hide" from the investigations. "Farmers have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of. Whatever compensation payments are being made, no money can ever make up for the devastating loss of years of work in this way," he said. "Hundreds of farmers have seen their life's work - and in some cases the work of generations - simply wiped out." He said that pedigree animals were worth tens of thousands of pounds each and that there could be hundreds of such animals in a single herd. He criticised "spin" against farmers, who have come under sustained attack in the media amid rumours of widespread fraud. The prime minister's official spokesman told reporters that Downing Street was not responsible for attempts to portray farmers in a bad light. "We have been doing right by the farmers and that will continue. The idea that we have in some way walked away from the farmers or abandoned them in their time of difficulty is simply not borne out by the facts," the spokesman said. He denied reports that farmers will be forced to insure themselves against future disease outbreaks but said that the government would consider the need for livestock insurance in the future. Related articles 06.08.2001: Blair forces farming shake-up 06.08.2001: Payouts create foot and mouth millionaires 30.07.2001: Inquiry into farmers 'infecting sheep' 28.07.2001: Brecon sheep cull casts shadow over all Wales 26.07.2001: Aid package for Welsh farmers unveiled 26.07.2001: Fears over new foot and mouth cases Map Late outbreaks Talk about it What do you think? >From the Guardian archive 28.11.1967, leader: indecision on foot and mouth 18.11.1967: 'Slaughter must seem a cruel remedy' 16.11.1967: Foot and mouth may cost agriculture more than £12m Interactive guides How the virus spread across Britain The countryside in crisis Special reports What's wrong with our food? BSE Countryside in crisis Useful links Norfolk Rural Life Museum Brecon Beacons National Park Northumberland county council National Farmers' Union Meat and livestock commission World organisation for animal health Ramblers Association Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001 End<{{ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
