London - The government should be prepared to examine the use of napalm to dispose of animals slaughtered because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the British Environment Minister, Mr Michael Meacher, indicated yesterday.
Mr Meacher stressed that the use of napalm was not currently on the agenda. But he added that there were environmental arguments in favour of using the chemical, which, as a weapon, became notorious in Vietnam. Mr Meacher addressed the issue in the House of Commons.
Mr Tam Dalyell, Labour MP, said: "Napalm will dispose of carcasses in 60 minutes, where pyres take three days. Because of the lack of vaporising effect of napalm, you don't get the by-products, the dioxins, that may arise from the burning of sleepers or old tyres."