SIX MONTHS on and the foot and mouth crisis has today passed a gloomy milestone. In the six months since the outbreak was confirmed, recriminations have passed between farmers and the Government. While the Government has twisted away from taking blame, some observers have claimed that the farmers themselves are to blame for the crisis, thanks to careless farming practices.

Whatever proves to be the case, the debate is now turning to the future. This is not to suggest that the crisis is over, as farmers in North Yorkshire know all too well; but it is to say that the whole complex and messy business deserves clear and calm consideration.

We have already expressed our disappointment at the Government's refusal to hold an open public inquiry, opting instead for a series of smaller separate reviews, which will have no remit to report publicly their findings.

Feelings are running high on all sides, with some farmers saying the crisis has been mishandled, while others have seemingly profited from distress by claiming compensation of more than £1 million each.

Some 3.7 million animals have been slaughtered, many of them healthy and uninfected. Misery has been spread across the countryside, afflicting farmers and the more widespread rural community. And while many farmers will receive compensation, other damaged businesses - such as bed and breakfast houses, hotels and so on - will not find such protection.

The Government has signalled that farmers might not be compensated if such a crisis were to occur again. While this might seem an insensitive time to raise the subject, it is surely right that compensation is questioned, alongside the wider subject of farming subsidies.

Lord Haskins, who has been appointed by the Government to spearhead a recovery programme for areas worst hit by foot and mouth, has many robust views on farming, including the belief that Common Agricultural Policy subsidies have encouraged fraud.

Farmers might wince at such statements, but it is right that the whole subject of agriculture should be opened up for proper discussion.

Updated: 10:26 Monday, August 20, 2001