Written question asked by Peter Ainsworth (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 December 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 January 2002. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 January 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many premises were tested for evidence of foot and mouth disease as a result of the outbreaks at (a) Beirhope Farm, Jedburgh and (b) Rennieston, Jedburgh in April; and what the result of the tests was. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 17 December 2001).

Answer: Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many premises were tested for evidence of foot and mouth disease as a result of the outbreaks at (a) Beirhope farm, Jedburgh and (b) Renniestone, Jedburgh in April; and what the result of the tests was. [23258] Margaret Beckett: [holding answer 17 December 2001]: Animals on both Beirhope farm and Renniestone were tested for foot and mouth disease and the test results were positive, confirming the disease in both cases. No tests were conducted on animals on the contiguous premises or on premises within the 3 km area surrounding each farm. A total of 92 premises located in the area between 3 and 10 kms from both farms were tested for foot and mouth disease. As both farms are in the same ownership separate records of this surveillance blood testing were not kept. All of these tests were negative. However, a negative result does not guarantee that there are no traces of virus present.

Secondary information