To ask the Scottish Executive when the BSE Inquiry Report will be published.
The BSE Inquiry Report has been published today at Westminster. The remit of the Inquiry was to establish and review the history of the emergence and identification of BSE and New Variant CJD and to reach conclusions on the adequacy of the response, taking into account the state of knowledge at the time. The report is concerned primarily with actions and events in Whitehall departments, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has today made an oral statement to the House of Commons.
On behalf of the Scottish Executive, I welcome the Inquiry's measured examination of the events between 1986-96 which led to this crisis. These events were of the utmost seriousness, not least to those individuals and families who have suffered. The adverse effects on the Scottish beef industry, and on the livelihoods of those who depend upon it, are also obvious.
I would like to express thanks to Lord Phillips and all those who devoted so much of their time to the complicated and highly demanding task of completing the report.
Some of the key general conclusions of the Inquiry are set out in the following quotations from the executive summary:
"At the heart of the BSE story lie questions of how to handle hazard - a known hazard to cattle and an unknown hazard to humans. The Government took measures to address both hazards. They were sensible measures, but they were not always timely nor adequately implemented and enforced."
"The rigour with which policy measures were implemented for the protection of human health was affected by the belief of many prior to early 1996 that BSE was not a potential threat to human life."
"The Government was anxious to act in the best interests of human and animal health. To this end they sought and followed the advice of independent scientific experts - sometimes when decisions could have been reached more swiftly and satisfactorily within Government."
"The Government did not lie to the public about BSE. It believed that the risks posed by BSE to humans were remote. The Government was preoccupied with preventing an alarmist over-reaction to BSE because it believed that the risk was remote. It is now clear that this campaign of reassurance was a mistake."
"Cases of a new variant of CJD were identified by the CJD Surveillance Unit and the conclusion that they were probably linked to BSE was reached as early as was reasonably possible. The link between BSE and Variant CJD is now clearly established, though the manner of infection is not clear."
With reference to events and actions in Scotland, the Inquiry finds that the then Scottish Office could have been more proactive in dealing with the challenge of BSE. Communication links between the Health and Agriculture Departments and Whitehall could have been more effective. It is important however to note that, in the Inquiry's words:
"There were no special features of the disease that would have justified a separate set of policies here..."
and:
"The people of Scotland were not served any less well than the rest of the UK."
Since 1996 significant changes have occurred. Constitutional change and the devolution of animal health, human health and food safety have established crucial mechanisms within Scotland for scrutinising the actions of the Executive and holding it to account for policy development in the relevant areas. All UK authorities recognise that disease, animal or human, does not respect geographical boundaries and that there are significant benefits from working in a cohesive way within a common EU framework.
The newly established Food Standards Agency is, for example, set up on an UK-wide basis yet has a distinctive Scottish presence, and is paid for and accountable to the Scottish Parliament for its actions in Scotland. It is also equipped to approach food safety matters in a multi-disciplinary way and has direct oversight of the Meat Hygiene Service in Scotland.
New linkages have been established between Health and Rural Affairs Departments in the Scottish Executive to ensure that the Executive's commitment to joined up government is met. There is also a firm commitment to good communication and a shared understanding of policy direction between the Executive and Whitehall, leaving room to develop distinctive Scottish solutions where these are necessary and are compatible with EU requirements.
Given the complexity and length of the report it would be premature at this stage to comment in detail on the Inquiry's findings. The report will need careful study and time will be required to digest it fully. It has today been laid in the Scottish Parliament and copies of the key findings and a summary volume have been made available to SPICe and to all members of the Health and Rural Affairs Committees.
To date 85 definite or probable cases of variant CJD have been reported in the UK. 80 people have died, including 13 in Scotland.
The care of patients suffering from vCJD and support for their families must therefore be our first concern. The Inquiry said that the victims of vCJD and their families have special needs, which require to be addressed. We are taking steps to do so. A new national fund will be set up, to help ensure all patients receive consistent high quality care. The fund will be held by the national co-ordinator at the CJD Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh, who will be assisted by a new support team and a national network of experts available to support local services. There will also be strengthened guidance for local health and social care professionals.
Variant CJD is a fatal illness with devastating effects on patients and families. Thus, in addition to the enhanced care package, appropriate support will also be provided for those who are suffering from vCJD, for those who care for them, and for the families of those who have already died. Financial arrangements to benefit sufferers from vCJD and their families across the UK will therefore be put in place, taking account of particular needs in individual cases.
The preferred option is to establish a compensation scheme resulting in a special Trust Fund. There are a number of other possible options, and there will be consultations with the families affected to identify the best way forward.
It will be important to learn lessons from the report. The Executive will take all necessary action to ensure that this is done and will keep Parliament fully informed.
