THE new agriculture minister has pledged that the foot and mouth outbreak in the Settle area will be dealt with as quickly as possible but stressed that it will be some time before a full recovery is achieved.

Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, set out her views during a visit on Monday to the Settle and Clitheroe areas to meet farmers and other business people affected by the outbreak.

In her meetings with farmers and local business people from the Yorkshire and Lancashire areas affected by the outbreak, the Secretary of State emphasised that there were no easy or immediate solutions to the problems of reducing and eliminating foot and mouth disease.

She made clear that the Government was resolute in ensuring that the outbreak was dealt with as quickly as possible but that the recovery so earnestly wanted by local businesses, farmers, hoteliers, shopkeepers and others, may yet take some time.

During her visit, the shift in Government thinking about the countryside became clear. There will be more emphasis on the overall rural economy and maintenance of the countryside, with less financial support for food production and more for development of such things as tourism, high-tech industries and marketing schemes.

She also reiterated that a review of the foot and mouth epidemic would not take the form of a public inquiry.

Last week, the minister announced two "significant" changes to the rules on the movement of livestock.

Livestock (cattle, sheep and pigs) from within infected areas will be permitted to move, under licence, for slaughter in abattoirs outside the infected area, both for human consumption and under the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme.

In addition, cattle and pigs from outside infected areas will be permitted to move, under licence, into 'provisionally free areas', on welfare grounds. At the same time welfare movements of cattle and pigs from one provisionally free area to another will also be permitted. Similar action for sheep is considered to be too risky.

Updated: 09:30 Thursday, June 28, 2001