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Bernard Matthews staff 'laid off' Bernard Matthews staff 'laid off'
(30 minutes later)
About 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site face being laid off in the wake of the bird flu outbreak, a union says.About 130 workers at a Bernard Matthews site face being laid off in the wake of the bird flu outbreak, a union says.
The Transport and General Workers' Union said employees at Great Witchingham, near Norwich, would be stood down for 20 days from Tuesday. The Transport and General Workers' Union said employees at Great Witchingham, in Norfolk, would be stood down for 20 days from Tuesday.
Environment Secretary David Miliband told MPs the focus remained on links between Hungary and the farm in Holton, Suffolk, where the outbreak occurred. Environment Secretary David Miliband said the disease inquiry remained focused on links between Hungary and the Suffolk farm hit by the virus.
He said restriction zones would not be lifted before the second week of March.He said restriction zones would not be lifted before the second week of March.
In a statement in the Commons, Mr Miliband urged anyone who kept poultry on any scale to also observe high levels of biosecurity. And he told MPs in a Commons statement there was a "continual risk" of further outbreaks.
"There can be no guarantee against further outbreaks," he said. "In fact the only guarantee is that there is a continual risk. Earlier, a spokesman for the TGWU told the BBC that the Bernard Matthews staff at the site in Great Witchingham, near Norwich, were being laid off and not made redundant.
The union said the firm was preparing to lay off a total of 500 workers.
He added that it was crucial for the company to win back the trust of consumers.
'No guarantees'
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Miliband urged anyone who kept poultry on any scale to observe high levels of biosecurity.
"There can be no guarantee against further outbreaks. In fact the only guarantee is that there is a continual risk," he said.
"That is why it's important that I reiterate my appeal to all poultry keepers to register with the poultry register and to maintain the highest standards of biosecurity.""That is why it's important that I reiterate my appeal to all poultry keepers to register with the poultry register and to maintain the highest standards of biosecurity."
He also said the health risk to workers at the Holton site was "very low indeed" and reiterated that consumers were not at risk so long as turkey meat was cooked properly. The environment secretary added that the health risk to workers at the Holton site was "very low indeed", and that consumers were not at risk so long as turkey meat was cooked properly.
A spokesman for the TGWU told the BBC that the Bernard Matthews staff at the site in Norfolk were being laid off and not made redundant. Shadow environment minister Peter Ainsworth said there was an "impression" ministers had not had relevant information or known of decisions relating to the trade with Hungary.
But the TGWU also claimed the firm is preparing to lay off a total of 500 workers. He also described reports that testing of live birds in Suffolk had not been undertaken as "evidence of astonishing complacency".
The spokesman also said the crucial thing was for the company to win back the trust of consumers. Mr Miliband said he would provide Mr Ainsworth with details of the Suffolk tests, but he said: "All the scientific advice is that we have one of the most effective surveillance and testing schemes anywhere in Europe."
Drop in salesDrop in sales
Last week Bernard Matthews admitted to BBC East that at one stage sales had fallen by 40% after the bird flu outbreak.Last week Bernard Matthews admitted to BBC East that at one stage sales had fallen by 40% after the bird flu outbreak.
The TGWU called on the government to pay compensation to the industry because of the drop in sales.The TGWU called on the government to pay compensation to the industry because of the drop in sales.
It said any compensation should include payments to the staff who were being laid off.It said any compensation should include payments to the staff who were being laid off.
The 130 workers standing down from Tuesday will receive a one-off payment of £100 each from the company as well as some statutory payments, the TGWU said.The 130 workers standing down from Tuesday will receive a one-off payment of £100 each from the company as well as some statutory payments, the TGWU said.
Chris Kaufman, national officer of the TGWU, said: "Industry will need the full backing of its government as it faces a challenging period.Chris Kaufman, national officer of the TGWU, said: "Industry will need the full backing of its government as it faces a challenging period.
"The government should also assist the workforce by ensuring that the benefits they are entitled to are processed without delay.""The government should also assist the workforce by ensuring that the benefits they are entitled to are processed without delay."
The H5N1 strain of bird flu was found at a Bernard Matthews farm in Holton earlier this month.The H5N1 strain of bird flu was found at a Bernard Matthews farm in Holton earlier this month.
It was nearly identical to a strain found in Hungary, where the company has a plant which regularly supplied meat to its UK operation.It was nearly identical to a strain found in Hungary, where the company has a plant which regularly supplied meat to its UK operation.