The British government yesterday announced three independent inquiries into the foot-and-mouth crisis, rejecting demands from sections of the farming industry and the Conservatives for a public inquiry.
The inquiries will focus on how the crisis was handled and what lessons can be learned, a scientific review of the outbreak and the future of farming in Britain. The decision means there will be 10 separate investigations into foot-and-mouth, including inquiries into Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and an investigation by the National Audit Office and a Commons Select Committee.
"It will be an inquiry process, segregated into three separate parts, rather than an all-singing, all-dancing public inquiry," the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Mrs Margaret Beckett, said, insisting a public inquiry would be expensive and take too long to publish its findings.
The president of the National Farmers' Union, Mr Ben Gill, gave the announcement a cautious welcome and, with new cases still being reported, he urged the inquiries to publish their findings as soon as possible.
The shadow environment secretary, Mr Tim Yeo, condemned the decision, saying it "falls far short" of what was required to rebuild public confidence. "Only a full, independent, public inquiry will hold former ministers to account and uncover the facts about this terrible epidemic," Mr Yeo said.
The UK move came as Switzerland lifted a ban on food and livestock imports from Northern Ireland, but still maintained restrictions on British produce as the foot-and-mouth crisis was not over.