Sir John Whittingdale MP was granted a Westminster Hall debate to discuss the avian influenza outbreak, which has quickly become the worst outbreak we have ever seen in this country.
The disease is now affecting every part of the UK but is particularly prevalent in East Anglia where it impacts wildlife and agriculture. So far, 3 outbreaks have taken place in the Maldon constituency.
As well as the serious impact on the wild bird population, John is particularly concerned about the impact it is having on the poultry industry, which contributes £2bn to our economy, employs tens of thousands, and puts food on our tables.
Producers like Kelly Turkeys in his constituency have already lost thousands of birds and yet have been able to obtain compensation for only a small fraction of these.
Under the Animal Health Act 1981, compensation is payable following culling. However, with this current outbreak, birds are being lost so rapidly that they die before culling can commence and smaller producers can lose almost their entire flock without being eligible for compensation.
John therefore asked the Government to consider amending the current compensation scheme to address this very real threat to the industry.
The Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Mark Spencer, responded with his assurance that DEFRA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is working with the industry to minimise the impact. The Government has already changed the rules of the compensation scheme so that it starts from when a vet confirms the presence of avian influenza.
They are also looking at ways of giving greater confidence to poultry farmers to invest in restocking for the future.
