Letters

THE Agriculture Minister, Nick Brown, has denied that Maff or the Government had any prior knowledge of the imminent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Yet, there are reports now emerging that approaches to timber suppliers were made weeks in advance of the initial outbreaks.

Apparently, they were asked if they could supply timber for the bonfires to dispose of animal carcasses.

If Mr Browns' assertion is true that this was a routine and ongoing exercise in crisis management, then perhaps he can disclose to the rest of us exactly how regularly these crisis management exercises are carried out.

If he is telling the truth, then there will be Maff efficiency ratings for the exercises that should be made public. Presumably, the exercise would have been scheduled months in advance.

We have a right to know how effective our public services are in exercises. We know that the reality is that slow movement by the Government is allowing the disease to escalate out of control, despite Mr Brown's soothing words. - Aidan Ruff, Ellingham, Northumberland.

AN uncontrollable outbreak of foot-and-mouth ravages this country, assisted by Government closure of abattoirs all over the country, in favour of high-cost, high-risk, long journeys.

Third parties make colossal amounts of money and farmers are cut to the bone with prices on stock after lengthy rearing.

What has happened to our country Mr Blair? No shipbuilding, no clothing industry, no steel industry, no footwear industry, no railway stock industry, no major building, no heavy engineering, farming wiped out, no fishing industry, lack of teaching staff and no coal industry.

We have an army of engineers and marksmen all paid; trained individuals doing nothing. Yet we have vets and other designated personnel culling animals round the clock at a cost of £1,000 per day per person. Not to mention materials needed: thousands of railway sleepers, 100 ton of coal each herd, plus straw and incendiary initiators to burn clean untouched livestock. What price an election win now Mr Blair? An ulterior motive must be in place to close this country down.

We all are very disheartened with the state of a once proud country and await the next petrol price increase to pay for it. - CE Urwin, Spennymoor.

GENERAL ELECTION

THE first time I voted at a General Election I was a soldier serving in the Royal Engineers and stationed in Berlin. I was allowed a proxy vote and informed my mother that I wished to vote for Manny Shinwell. The year was 1945. Germany had surrendered, but we were still at war with Japan.

The election date was decided by the Tory Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

War hero Winston made that decision because he concluded that even a war was not as important as a British General Election.

The present Tory leader does not agree with his famous predecessor. Mr Hague thinks that foot-and-mouth disease is more important than even a world war and would like to cancel all elections. Since he expects to be slaughtered at the polls, who can blame him? - J Stewart, Shotton.

I HAVE been listening to both sides of the argument for and against a General Election in May.

Those against appear to be from the rural communities who argue that, because of foot-and-mouth disease, the countryside is inaccessible, farmers unable to vote, politicians unable to canvass.

Yet, we see pictures on TV of people dipping their feet in disinfectant as they walk to and from farmyards, we see vehicles being sprayed with disinfectant as they drive quite freely down country lanes. Is it not also a fact that farmers are allowed to vote by post?

At any General Election there are people who, for various reasons, are unable to vote. Those who are ill and unable to leave their bedrooms, hospital patients who cannot leave their wards, etc.

While only a tiny minority of the electorate live in the country, a vast majority live in our towns and cities. Places such as London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham are untouched by foot-and-mouth. They see no reason for a postponement.

Would we have cancelled a General Election for a flu epidemic? - John Hodgson, Haswell, Durham.

PENSIONERS

YOUR paper carries regular reports about quite savage and senseless attacks on pensioners and their property. I myself have suffered three recent attacks, these being a burglary, a car theft and a mugging.

These are quite cowardly attacks on the most vulnerable section of society and it is about time these types of attack were stopped and pensioners and their property made a no-go area for crime.

Could we not have a statutory minimum sentence of three years in prison for anyone committing a criminal offence against pensioners or their property. I know many pensioners can think of worse punishments than this. - Name and address supplied.

CATS

I AM writing in response to D Mawson's letter (HAS, Mar 19) regarding cats. I love all animals but have a particular fondness for cats. A lot of hatred of cats comes from ancient superstition and general ignorance.

As a long-time owner, I can honestly say that my cats rarely kill and bring home any prey. I would argue that humans, and especially cars, are more guilty of decimating wildlife.

As for the rubbish they deposit, they are much cleaner than dogs (I also have a dog) who leave their mess where the public will be walking.

Responsible ownership is another point. My cats are neutered, vaccinated and kept in at night, for their own safety, where they have access to a litter tray.

A cat can provide much-needed companionship for people who are perhaps afraid of dogs or do not have the home/lifestyle suitable for one.

Finally, how many reports do you read where a cat has savaged a child to death? - K Graham, Crook.