GOVERNMENT MUST DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE BLUETONGUE VACCINATION- WILLIAMS

2.30.49pm GMT Wed 29th Oct 2008

In response to a Parliamentary Question which shows that just 60% of cattle have been vaccinated against Bluetongue, Roger Williams MP, Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, has called for the Government to do more to ensure take up.

Mr Williams said:

"The answer I received from the minister is very disappointing.

"The common consensus is that at least 85% of livestock need to be vaccinated to prevent a widespread outbreak.

"While it is encouraging that 80%-90% of cattle in the East and South East have been vaccinated this is the area where Bluetongue first struck the UK and if the take up were any lower it would be cause for concern.

"However we have seen that Bluetongue is not limited to just the East of England and therefore the Government must do more to encourage uptake of the vaccine.

"The Minister states that vaccination is the responsibility of the industry and that she has no specific target for take-up, yet the Government are responsible for ordering the vaccine and are therefore clearly involved in this matter.

"The Government has spent a sizeable sum on acquiring the vaccine and it makes sense that it is used.

"In Scotland vaccination is compulsory and it maybe time for the Government in Westminster and Cardiff to consider a similar policy across England and Wales to make the entire UK a Bluetongue-free zone and prevent any further disease outbreak."

NOTES:

The full text of the answer received by Roger Williams MP can be found at:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-21a.227324.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g227324.q0