Jacques Chirac has ordered an inquiry into the safety of British beef.

The announcement followed a dinner discussion with prime minister, Tony Blair, last night.

Earlier in the day, Blair had been pressed to raise the matter with the recently re-elected French president.

Charles Kennedy asked the prime minister to raise France's continuing "illegal" ban on British beef.

"Given that the prime minister is meeting later today with the president of France will he be raising the continuing illegal ban on British beef importation?," he asked.

"And has he yet been able to ascertain whether the new incoming French administration intends to end this illegal ban?"

Blair insisted that the ban would be raised - stressing that the matter was with the European Commission.

He said the government would continue to press the case for British beef at inter-governmental meetings.

"We very much hope they will come into line with their legal obligations," he told MPs. "The ban on British beef is wholly illegal.

"It is also the case that the incidence of BSE here is falling, and has fallen dramatically, the incidence of BSE in France is rising.

"There is no reason whatever for this ban to remain, no reason science, no reason in common senses, no reason in law."