23/11/2007 - Anger over cuts to Cumbria's animal health budget

A leading county councillor is warning that Cumbria’s ability to combat animal diseases like foot and mouth will suffer thanks to a DEFRA funding mix-up.

Cumbria Trading Standards is being forced to cut the amount of animal health enforcement work it does in the county because ministers mistakenly promised funding that is not available.

Council animal health teams across the country had been promised £9.77 million from DEFRA for the current financial year. But there was only ever £8.5 million available, with the overspend arising from the government’s failure to keep a track of the budgets it had agreed with local authorities.

For Cumbria, the error means £40,000 is being cut from Trading Standards’ animal health budget this year. Locally, the money is used to manage animal traceability schemes and the cost of enforcing biosecurity measures and animal movement restrictions.

As result of the cut, Cumbria Trading Standards is being forced to reduce its team of field officers from nine to eight, and its full-time equivalent licensing and data capture posts from three to two.

Last month, investigative work by one of the county’s field officers led to meat being removed from supermarket shelves following a suspected animal health breach.

Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member responsible for Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "This reduction in government animal health funding could not have come at a worse time.

"In the wake of the recent foot and mouth outbreak and in the midst of concerns over bluetongue, the last thing the county needs is a cut in funding.

"The mistake was made by DEFRA who should honour their funding agreement with Cumbria Trading Standards."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Maark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337

Notes

1. More background information can found on the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) website http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/home.aspx

2. Information on the suspected animal health breach uncovered by Cumbria Trading Standards can be found on the Food Standards Agency website http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/oct/lamb