WEST Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett is pressing the Government for an urgent compensation payout to crisis-hit farmers.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday Mr Burnett called on Agriculture Secretary Nick Brown to draw down £200 million of European 'agrimonetary' compensation.
'Farming is already in a dreadful crisis because of BSE, TB and the dramatic drop in farming incomes over the last five years and most of the farms in my constituency are on the brink of insolvency,' he said.
'This outbreak of foot and mouth is a catastrophe not only for farmers but for all other allied traders and businesses from hauliers to abattoirs, feed merchants and butchers.'
Mr Burnett said the compensation which UK farmers were entitled to must be drawn down at once because farmers' cashflow was 'non existent' and they could not afford to wait.
He is also calling for compensation for 'consequential' losses caused by the restrictions on animal movements.
'Agriculture has lost a good many markets — there is now much feed and fertilizer that is unusable, the market for exporting sheep has disappeared and cattle who have just gone over the 30-month limit because of the restrictions will not be going into the food chain.'
The MP, whose constituency includes four sites with confirmed cases of foot and mouth which are all linked to Highampton farmer Willie Cleave, said the first priority was obviously to contain the outbreak and local people were rallying around to help farmers and MAFF to stop the spread of this virulently contagious disease.
'It is an absolutely tragic situation — I have spoken to Willie Cleave and he is devastated and deeply upset by what has happened. He is an innocent victim of these appalling events.'
l On Tuesday night the Government announced a £152-million compensation package to farmers.