AFTER meeting farmers at Pershore last Saturday, Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, said he would ask the Prime Minister in Parliament this week when he would take a decision about the possibility of vaccinating animals.

"We need a decision quickly," he said. "The whole history of this dreadful epidemic is that decisions have been taken too late. For example, if the slaughter policy come sooner, this would not have got out of hand." He is also asking for compensation payments to be eligible for roll-over tax relief, and to be told why, while clean animals can be transported for slaughter for welfare reasons, clean animals should not go into the food chain.