Farmers miss out on compensation

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Compensation for farmers hit by the last foot-and-mouth outbreak will only be given to those directly affected by the disease, the government has said.

Animal Health Minister Lord Rooker said that money would be paid only to farmers whose animals were destroyed, or whose property was seized.

It means that livestock farmers who lost thousands of pounds because of movement restrictions will miss out.

Lord Rooker defended the limit, saying "the law was clear" on this matter.

He told the House of Lords: "Compensation will be paid for animals seized and for property - including carcasses - that has been destroyed to stop the disease from spreading.

"There is no statutory provision for other losses suffered from farmers."

On Tuesday the National Farmers' Union said it would lodge a claim for compensation against the Merial Laboratory and the Institute of Animal Health in Pirbright, Surrey, where last summer's outbreak began.

Many of the losses - thought by some to total over £500m - were brought about by the movement restrictions imposed following the foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Surrey in August and September.

A ban on the importation of livestock and controls on the commercial importation of meat remains in place.