An animal vaccination programme will take place in the event of any future foot and mouth outbreak, Margaret Beckett has said.

Responding to the official reports on last year's epidemic, the environment secretary told the Commons yesterday that the government is consulting with other parties so that it could initiate a vaccination campaign quickly if the disease strikes again.

Forum Response: Country Land and Business Association

A spokesman for the Country Land and Business Association told ePolitx.com: ""The government needs now to turn words into action and build on the good intentions expressed.

"Tourism is crucial to the viability of the rural economy, as was so vividly demonstrated last year. The government is right that the countryside should not be unnecessarily closed down in the event of another animal disease outbreak and we welcome the proposal for a demarcated 'blue box' exclusion system.

"However the government must be ready to respond if there is a risk of disease spreading across open countryside, especially once the Countryside and Rights of Way Act has come into force.

"The government must clearly demonstrate its commitment to the introduction of an effective and practicable emergency vaccination procedure, agreed across the EU, with a reliable means of distinguishing vaccinated from infected animals, so that we will never again face a mass livestock cull on the scale of 2001.

"We welcome the announcement that responsibility for stopping illegal meat imports will now rest with one agency - HM Customs and Excise. We also welcome the ban on personal imports of meat. However the real evidence of the government's commitment will come when spot checks of people and vehicles become a feature at all places of entry into the UK.

"The government's commitment to putting an effective contingency plan in place is to be applauded. It is vital that everyone concerned is fully aware, well rehearsed and that the plan is continuously reviewed and updated."

Forum Response: Countryside Allaince

A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "The Countryside Alliance welcomes the government's limited acceptance of vaccination as an alternative to slaughter in some cases. They must also strive to ensure that there is a market for vaccinated meat. We encourage the government to make informed decisions on science and not be swayed by other arguments.