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Farming Matters!
Foot and Mouth Disease

Church calls for a Public Enquiry

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Farmers Weekly
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This news release follows the Foot and Mouth Discussion at The General Synod of the Church of England

CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRESSES FOR PUBLIC INQUIRY

The Church of England is calling for a thorough Public Inquiry into the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease as a result of an initiative from Cumbria, the worst-affected county.

The Chairman of the lay-people in Cumbria, Nigel Holmes, tabled an amendment at the General Synod in York during a major debate on the work of the church in rural areas.
It asks the Government to establish a formal Public Inquiry into the outbreak including "the events leading up to it, its handling and its consequences". He said it was "nothing short of a catastrophe for Cumbria and a calamity for the country" and told members that, in the South West of England, "The Western Morning News" was campaigning at present for a Public Inquiry.
A bishop from that area, Jim Thompson Bishop of Bath and Wells, spoke in support as did the Bishop of Carlisle. Bishop Dow said that it was important to know the truth and to be well prepared in future and he felt that a formal Public Inquiry would go some way to meeting the anger felt in the community.

The amendment was passed overwhelmingly and a count was taken on the amended motion which was approved by 394 to nil. Both Bishop Dow and Nigel Holmes are trustees of the Cumbria Community Foundation. This has already raised well over half a million pounds for the Recovery Fund which is already helping many local organisations and individuals.

9 July 2001

Synod vote:-
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The Farmers Weekly published a letter asking for the Prime Minister to approve an offical Public Enquiry.