By Ewan Pate, farming editor

SCOTLAND’S LIVESTOCK hauliers have reacted furiously to the negative response to their request for longer hours during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

They are particularly incensed by Jim Fitzpatrick, under secretary of state at the Department of Transport, who said in a letter received at the weekend that the transport aspect of the foot-and-mouth situation in Scotland was “a short-term local problem.”

Phil Flanders, regional director of the Road Haulage Association, said yesterday, “This absolutely appals me. If we do not do something animals are going to die.

“There are many fewer livestock haulage drivers than there were at the time of the 2001 outbreak and even then we were granted extra operating hours for seven months.

“Under the current rules we would need an eight-day week.”

Mr Flanders’ request, which had been strongly supported by a formal request to the Department of Transport from Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead, was for a 56-hour week.

A 56-hour week is allowable but the maximum for a two-week period is 90 hours.

“It is not a lot to ask and would help to cope with all the extra time needed for washing and disinfecting,” said Mr Flanders. “Along with some extra weekend work it would allow the Scottish haulage industry to cope.”

Apparently, the Department of Transport see the problem as an economic one and not an animal welfare one but that is clearly not a view shared by Mr Lochhead.

“This is a desperate time for the red meat sector,” he said.

“Everyone is battle weary. The timing could not be worse and there is an increasing welfare problem.”

To reinforce the point he was joined at a press conference yesterday afternoon not only by Mr Flanders but also by Michael Flynn, chief superintendent of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“We are concerned about the position, particularly on the islands,” said Mr Flynn. “Animals seem to be OK at present but welfare problems will arise and we have to be ready to do anything we can to help.

Mr Flynn has a team of 62 inspectors on the ground.

Asked if funds would be available from SSPCA to assist farmers with serious welfare problems he said, “No. That is a role for government but we will help and advise as much as possible.”

Government is central to the handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis and although maintaining a diplomatic veneer it was clear that Mr Lochhead was irked at the attitude of the Department of Transport, describing it as “an unfortunate response.”

He is to meet DEFRA junior minister Lord Rooker in Edinburgh today and has also written again to Mr Fitzpatrick.

There were no fresh announcements of relaxations of the general movement ban yesterday.

Chief veterinary officer for Scotland Charles Milne said, “Before we can allow movements within businesses or from farm to farm we have to be sure that no livestock has come to Scotland from the affected areas of Surrey or that there are no indirect contacts.

“We really have to respect this foot-and-mouth virus.

“We have been once again utilising the centre of excellence in epidemiology based here in Edinburgh to trace movements within 50 kilometres of Pirbright and we will be using information from the British Cattle Movement Service.”

By tonight, all cattle movements before the general ban last Wednesday should have been reported to BCMS and Mr Milne estimated that information would be analysed tomorrow

Mr Milne said there are no suspected cases being investigated in Scotland.

“Much will depend on there being no further cases,” he said.

However, last night DEFRA announced that initial blood tests on sheep had suggested a new case of foot-and-mouth disease.

The affected livestock are on sheep from a farm within the protection zone in Surrey, a DEFRA spokeswoman said.

All animals on the farm are to be slaughtered and further tests were ongoing, she said.

It is becoming clear that lifting the export ban will be more difficult this time than it was after the August outbreak.

Regionalisation seems to be gaining favour but it is unlikely that all of Britain apart from the Surrey area will be cleared for meat exports to the EU.