FOOT AND MOUTH AND ELECTIONS

Early day motion 459, tabled 19 March 2001 by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 4 members.

That this House recognises the grave situation caused by the foot and mouth epidemic; expresses immense concern at the devastating effects this crisis is having on tourism-related and agriculture-related businesses; believes that the whole undivided attention of government should be given to dealing with this crisis; asserts that it would be seen as an incomprehensible dereliction of duty for a General Election to be called in the middle of such a crisis; and calls on the Prime Minister to announce that no election will be called earlier than May 2002 unless and until at least four weeks after the last confirmed case of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom, and that the county elections in England shall be rescheduled to May 2002.

Signatures by party: Labour 2, Plaid Cymru 2.