New questions about the competence of the Government surfaced today after it emerged that there has been a leak of live foot-and-mouth virus from the same place which caused the outbreak earlier this year.
Although a new outbreak is unlikely, as the virus has not leaked into the environment, questions are still being asked about the competence of those there.
Conservative rural affairs spokesman Peter Ainsworth has written an urgent letter to Secretary of State for Defra Hilary Benn, asking questions about the incident.
The National Farmers' Union said in a statement today: 'It is extremely concerning that part of the system at Merial has failed. However, we have been reassured by Defra that the secondary decontamination systems have worked effectively and that no live virus escaped into the environment.'
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Can't you hear me S.O.S? Our treasured native dog breeds are at risk of extinctionDo you know your Kerry blue terrier from your Lancashire heeler? A simple lack of publicity is often to blame for some of the UK's native dog breeds flying dangerously low under-the-radar.
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'There are architects and architects, but only one ARCHITECT': Sir Edwin Lutyens and the wartime Chancellor who helped launch his stellar careerClive Aslet explores the relationship between Sir Edwin Lutyens and perhaps his most important private client, the politician and financier Reginald McKenna.
