FARMERS should not be denied a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis, claims Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff.
The Conservative MP told the Worcester branch of the National Farmers' Union that a full public inquiry was necessary to learn from this year's outbreak.
The inquiry, which is to be held in private by Dr Iain Anderson CBE, will recommend ways that future Governments should handle major outbreaks of animal disease in light of the epidemic.
Mr Luff, who made the comments during the branch's annual meeting at Top Farm Barn, Holt Heath on Friday, said there were "no good reasons" for the inquiry to be held in private.
"The BSE inquiry took two years under an independent judge and was held in public," he said.
"Although I would want an inquiry into foot-and-mouth to take less time than that, there is no reason why this should be held behind closed doors. It is crucial we know what went wrong, what went well, and what lessons need to be learnt.
"There is no good reason to deny farmers of this country a full public inquiry and I will continue to fight for one."
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