---

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Answer

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the delivery of the 2001 census forms and the associated risk of the spread of foot and mouth disease; and what assessment he has made of that risk. [158960] Ms Quin: [holding answer 26 April 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Minister has not received any formal representations concerning the risk of individuals spreading foot and mouth when delivering census forms. However, officials from the Office for National Statistics have consulted the Department over appropriate guidance to issue to enumerators, census team leaders and census district managers to ensure that the exercise is conducted in a way that will do nothing to exacerbate the foot and mouth situation. This guidance has been developed with the support of the National Farmers Unions and will ensure that the census proceeds with maximum caution in rural areas. In particular: Census takers will respect all restrictions in relation to foot and mouth whether put in place by the authorities or by farmers/communities themselves. On no account will census takers use taped off thoroughfares or pass warning signs. Census takers will talk to the Royal Mail about local arrangements for deliveries in rural areas where there are restrictions. Where census takers cannot reach a farm or household they will: (a) attempt to make telephone contact with the householder and arrange to deliver the form in an appropriate way, e.g. delivering the form to the farm gate or arranging for the form to reach the farm or household with other deliveries. (b) post the form to the farm or household with an information leaflet and covering letter advising the householder to post back their completed census form or to call the census helpline for further assistance about completing the form.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

158960; 368 c131-2W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Census Disease control Foot and mouth disease Risk assessment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk