Sir Patrick Cormack FSA

Conservative Party | Staffordshire South

Question on Avian Influenza

Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): As it is essential that there should be public confidence in how the disease is tackled, and as we all know that there is no situation that is not made worse by panic, will the Secretary of State assure the House that the lorries taking the carcases to Staffordshire will not only be sealed but will be escorted by police?

Hilary Benn: I am happy to give the hon. Gentleman those assurances—in that the lorries will be escorted: there will be vehicles behind them to make sure that they are not leaking, and they will be checked before they go. The carcasses that went to Frome during the foot and mouth outbreak were dealt with in exactly the same way.