European Parliament to investigate foot and mouth crisis in UK
A full inquiry into the UK’s foot and mouth epidemic and its handling by the government is to be conducted by the European Parliament, according to reports. The inquiry will begin next month and could be highly embarrassing for the UK government, which has weathered a barrage of criticism from the opposition Tory Party and refused to hold a public inquiry.
Key areas of investigation will be the relative advantages and disadvantages of the slaughter policy of the government, which affected millions of animals, compared with the vaccination programmes used in other countries. Also controversial was a letter sent to farmers that allegedly encouraged them to falsify records in order to win EU compensation.
The EU is liable to pay two-thirds of the £2 billion ($2.88 billion) in aid paid to farmers as compensation, but if irregularities on the part of the UK government are found by the investigation of the European Parliament the EU might be less willing to pay out.
