THE foot and mouth debate was put firmly back on the Government agenda this week when West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett highlighted its impact in Devon and stressed the need for more financial assistance.

Liberal Democrat Mr Burnett secured an adjournment debate to talk for 30 minutes in the House of Commons on the issue on Tuesday where he put a number of questions and concerns to DEFRA minister Alun Michael.

The MP pressed for more marketing campaigns for the tourist industry, a relaxation of the 20-day cooling off period, which restricts the movement of animals, better schemes to help flagging businesses and improved import controls.

Mr Burnett also called for more cash for the voluntary sector and highlighted the 'invaluable' work of the Okehampton and district branch of the Council for Voluntary Service in running an advice and assistance centre at Hatherleigh during the foot and mouth crisis.

The MP raised concerns about the Ash Moor pit near Petrockstowe which was built to bury 400,000 carcasses and never used. Together with the community he is campaigning for the site, which is costing £20,000 a week to maintain, to be reinstated.

He said Ash Moor was just about the most unsuitable burial site that one could find, not least because the water table was fewer than six foot below ground in places.

'If the site were ever brought into use, one flash flood would cause thousands of gallons of pernicious effluent to flood the valley and poison the water supplies of many thousands of people,' he said.

Mr Michael said Ash Moor, which had been 'effectively mothballed' since construction work ceased in May, had been built at the height of the crisis when the preferred methods of disposal — rendering and incineration — could not keep pace with demand.

Although there had been no cases for well over 60 days he said the Government must stand prepared for the possibility of another outbreak.

He assured Mr Burnett that Government officials planned to meet Devon County Council early in the New Year to discuss future possible uses of Ash Moor in light of the cost and benefit to the environment and community.

The cost of foot and mouth to local business had been phenomenal, said Mr Burnett, who revealed that almost 90 per cent of firms in his constituency had reported a downturn in trade.

'We lost 2.6 per cent of the county's gross domestic product, which meant that about £316-million went out of Devon's economy as a result of the disease,' he said.

He referred to Rural Recovery Co-ordinator Lord Haskin's report which recommended an immediate increase in financial help by some £40-million yet the Government response had only been £24-million.

Following the debate Mr Burnett said he would keep the pressure on and would initiate another debate in the New Year if he had to.

'The minister can be under no illusions of the effect foot and mouth has had on agriculture, tourism and allied trades. We will learn in the forthcoming months whether he has taken it in,' he said.

The Government announcement this week that livestock markets could resume in February has been welcomed by the MP who said it was vital to the future of Hatherleigh to have the market up and running again.

But the markets will open under strict restrictions and only live cattle will be sold. Sheep and pigs will only be allowed through for slaughter markets.

l Devon NFU chairman David Hill received a standing ovation at a packed meeting this week when he stood down after a term of office that included the trauma of the foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Hill, who farms at Germansweek, is succeeded by Crediton farmer John Daw.