Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Government's bird flu defence must consider impact on free-range producers - Baker
Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Defra Secretary Norman Baker MP, has called on the government to ensure that the needs of the free-range poultry industry are properly considered as it seeks to prepare the UK against a possible outbreak of avian influenza. Speaking during Defra parliamentary questions today, Norman warned Defra Minister Ben Bradshaw that unless the government implements proper precautions to guard against inadvertently damaging the industry, free range farmers in Sussex could face financial ruin.
Speaking on the floor of the Commons chamber Norman asked the Minister:
"I realise that the Minister is trying to strike the difficult balance between taking proper precautionary biosecurity measures whilst not damaging the farming industry or alarming the public unnecessarily. Will he recognise that to require all free-range poultry to be kept indoors could potentially destroy a form of farming we all wish to promote and must only be required as a last resort?"
In response the Minister agreed that it was important that any measures that the government introduced to guard against the threat of avian influenza did not damage free-range farmers and gave an assurance that this would be considered in the government’s strategy.
Speaking after the debate, Norman said:
"Whilst the government is absolutely right to take all the precautionary biosecurity measures they can to guard against the possible spread of avian influenza, it is essential that they also protect the farming industry which could be hit very badly indeed. Some of the headlines in the national papers over the last fortnight have whipped the threat of bird flu up into a frenzy, and put pressure on the government to take measures that may not be helpful or necessary.
"I recognise that the government must consider all possible measures which could help prevent any spread of influenza between birds, including the possibility of keeping birds inside, but the government must exercise caution in making its decision and this must be made with all due regard for the welfare of the free-range poultry industry."