According to this morning’s Times, Defra officials knew about the poor state of the drains at the Pirbright research laboratory four years ago. The paper reports that:
“wrangling between the government-funded Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and the pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health, which share the site, over how much each should pay towards repairs reached a deadlock and the work was not carried out. The issue is expected to be decided in the High Court.”
That’s right, Defra knew about the problem for four years. That is an almost incredible level of incompetence and will, I am sure, infuriate farmers, who have lost a conservative £50 million as a result of the outbreak.
Yet no ministers offer their resignation, no official heads roll.
What sort of country have we become, where abject, monumental failure in public office is met with a shrug of the shoulders?
No doubt we will soon be told by some Labour talking head that we will have to learn the lessons and move on.
“wrangling between the government-funded Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and the pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health, which share the site, over how much each should pay towards repairs reached a deadlock and the work was not carried out. The issue is expected to be decided in the High Court.”
That’s right, Defra knew about the problem for four years. That is an almost incredible level of incompetence and will, I am sure, infuriate farmers, who have lost a conservative £50 million as a result of the outbreak.
Yet no ministers offer their resignation, no official heads roll.
What sort of country have we become, where abject, monumental failure in public office is met with a shrug of the shoulders?
No doubt we will soon be told by some Labour talking head that we will have to learn the lessons and move on.
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