IN its contact with 10 Downing Street, the Times asked Prime Minister Tony Blair some specific questions relating to the foot and mouth crisis and its effect on West Devon.

Times editor Colin Brent asked the Prime Minister whether elections should be postponed from May 3 because of fears that campaigning activity would spread the virus.

Mr Blair stressed that the only elections which were fixed were those for the county councils.

He said: 'On the specific question about whether election activity would spread the disease, I don't really think — with modern campaigns — this is a problem. And the fact that everyone is now entitled to a postal vote for whatever reason is also a help.

'But I am, of course, aware that there are calls for the county council elections —which are set by law for May 3 — to be postponed. I said I would listen seriously to these concerns and I genuinely am. I can understand why some people in Devon believe elections to be an unnecessary distraction.

'I am also listening as well to those voices, including some in the tourism industry, who warn that cancelling the elections would send out a message to the outside world that our country was closed for business.

'Postponing the elections — and one of the problems is that no one knows how long this crisis may last — would be a serious step. It could have a very damaging impact on tourism even in those areas without a case of foot and mouth. But as I have said, I continue to listen.'

The Times put it to Mr Blair that there had been a repeated claim that the Government did not understand rural issues. Why did it take so long for the disease to be given the priority it demanded?

Mr Blair said: 'I don't feel either of the assumptions made in this question are fair. We have given this our full attention right from the start. As soon as this disease was identified, we took immediate and tough action. Indeed, some people thought we were over-reacting.

'There was the same response to our plans for a pre-emptive cull which I know still remains controversial in some quarters in Devon.

'When it was first announced in Cumbria, there was widespread opposition and angry talk of protests. Now the complaints are that the cull should have been quicker and more extensive.

'I understand and sympathise with both views but what it shows is the difficulty of tracking and dealing with the equivalent of the common cold through the human population.

'By the time this disease was first identified, we now know that infected animals had been moved right across the country and had unfortunately come into contact with many others. '

Mr Blair said the claim that the Labour Government did not understand rural issues was something its political opponents 'always trotted out'.

'What we understand is that the main priorities of people in rural areas are jobs, living standards, health, crime and education — the same as people living in our towns and cities. So I am proud that the New Deal, for instance, has often had a bigger impact on reducing youth unemployment in rural areas than in many urban ones. It has certainly helped cut youth unemployment in West Devon and Torridge by 85 per cent since the election.'

The Times asked Mr Blair if the Government would introduce stricter controls on the movement of livestock and re-examine the possibility of re-opening small, local abattoirs. It is argued this would reduce journeys and thereby the risk of the virus spreading in any future outbreak.

'We are going to impose the same restrictions on the quick resale of cattle, sheep and goats as we already have for pigs,' said Mr Blair.

'There is no doubt that the rapid movement of sheep, for whatever reason, has been one of the reasons it has been so hard to contain this outbreak.

'We will also look at the provision of abattoirs although there is little evidence at the moment that this has played much of a role in the spread of foot and mouth.'

Finally, the Times asked the Prime Minister if there would be extra funding for West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council to help rebuild the area's shattered economy and keep existing jobs and businesses going?

Mr Blair said he could not promise any 'blank cheques' but he would 'look at what help might be given'.