KEY findings from Devon's foot and mouth inquiry were published this week, after the preliminary report claimed handling of the crisis was 'lamentable'.

The report, written by inquiry chairman Professor Ian Mercer, of Moretonhampstead, criticised the way the Government and its agencies treated individuals and communities during the outbreaks which devastated West Devon's economy this spring.

The report states: 'Insensitive and even belligerent operatives and bungled culls do little to enhance the professional reputation of all those involved, from ministers downwards.'

Copies of the findings have been sent to the Prime Minister, rural recovery co-ordinator Lord Haskins and Lord Whitty of DEFRA, who is co-ordinating evidence in the Government's inquiries into the crisis, the future of farming and the countryside.

Prof Mercer said lessons which should have been learned from the 1967 foot and mouth outbreak did not appear to have been implemented — and 'recommendations of the official report into that outbreak were ignored'.

The preliminary report follows five days of public hearings in Exeter last month, in which 360 written submissions were considered and evidence from 50 additional witnesses was heard.

The 20-page report contains 31 findings. They include:

l Vaccination must be considered to aid temporary containment in any future outbreak. The report described last-minute efforts by MAFF to train vaccinators in Devon as 'ridiculous and dangerous'.

l Large-scale pyres should never be used again. If the slaughter policy is continued and rendering capacity was exceeded, large-scale burial locations should be identified as part of contingency planning, using 'full and open consultation with the public and local authorities'.

l Import controls on food must be tightened to the 'highest international standards'.

l An immediate movement ban on animals must be implemented on the first day of any future outbreak.

l Recommendations to re-establish small-scale, local abbatoirs.

l Devon's 4,500 farmers who lived under Form D restrictions — the 'forgotten victims' of the crisis — should be given rapid financial assistance.

l A national contingency plan for foot and mouth should be developed and regularly tested.

The definitive document will be published as soon as possible.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said: 'This inquiry has produced some extremely valuable and useful evidence and I welcome its robust findings.

'I deplore the fact that DEFRA did not see fit to appear at the inquiry and I have applied for a 90-minute emergency debate in the Commons on the impact of foot and mouth in Devon.'

Bere Ferrers farmer John Dawe, vice chairman of Devon NFU, said the inquiry had done 'a good job', although he too was 'very disappointed' at the non-appearance of DEFRA at the hearings.

'It highlights the fact that tens of thousands of animals in Devon were killed unnecessarily,' he said.

'The important thing is that if there is another outbreak, we need to ensure the findings of the report are put into operation immediately, not like the last inquiry when it was just left on the shelf,' he added.