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| Bluetongue cases increase to 24 | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of confirmed cases of bluetongue disease has risen to 24, the government has said. | |
| All of the cases are within the existing control zone in East Anglia, a Defra spokeswoman confirmed. | |
| The total has risen from 11 cases on Saturday and includes a cluster around a rare breeds farm near Ipswich. | |
| Meanwhile, rules restricting lorry drivers' hours are to be relaxed to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting transportation to market. | |
| The daily driving limit will rise from nine hours to 10 in areas of low disease risk once the restrictions on animal movement are eased on 4 October. | The daily driving limit will rise from nine hours to 10 in areas of low disease risk once the restrictions on animal movement are eased on 4 October. |
| From then, cattle, sheep and goats can be transported to market, providing the outbreak situation does not change. | From then, cattle, sheep and goats can be transported to market, providing the outbreak situation does not change. |
| This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly | This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly |
| Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: "This is an important time for farmers and livestock owners. | Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: "This is an important time for farmers and livestock owners. |
| "Therefore, after careful consideration, when movements to livestock markets are permitted in low-risk areas we will be relaxing the rules governing drivers' hours. | "Therefore, after careful consideration, when movements to livestock markets are permitted in low-risk areas we will be relaxing the rules governing drivers' hours. |
| "This will help minimise the impact of foot-and-mouth on the rural economy, as well as protect animal welfare." | "This will help minimise the impact of foot-and-mouth on the rural economy, as well as protect animal welfare." |
| Farmers across Britain have warned that the backlog of animals awaiting transportation to market and to slaughter could ruin them financially. | Farmers across Britain have warned that the backlog of animals awaiting transportation to market and to slaughter could ruin them financially. |
| The measure will apply throughout Scotland and Wales as well as all areas of England which lie in the foot-and-mouth low-risk zone. | The measure will apply throughout Scotland and Wales as well as all areas of England which lie in the foot-and-mouth low-risk zone. |
| Movement to markets will still not be permitted in bluetongue disease risk areas. | Movement to markets will still not be permitted in bluetongue disease risk areas. |
| The changes will be in place for a month. | The changes will be in place for a month. |
| EU rules | EU rules |
| Ms Kelly said: "Tiredness is an important road safety issue and rules ensuring hauliers take proper breaks and work sensible hours protect all road users. | Ms Kelly said: "Tiredness is an important road safety issue and rules ensuring hauliers take proper breaks and work sensible hours protect all road users. |
| "Therefore, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored." | "Therefore, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it will be carefully monitored." |
| The Department for Transport (DfT) said drivers' mandatory weekly rest periods would be reduced from 45 hours to 24 and there would be no weekly or fortnightly driving time limits. | The Department for Transport (DfT) said drivers' mandatory weekly rest periods would be reduced from 45 hours to 24 and there would be no weekly or fortnightly driving time limits. |
| Drivers are also subject to EU working time legislation which restricts their total hours at work, not just those spent driving. | Drivers are also subject to EU working time legislation which restricts their total hours at work, not just those spent driving. |
| The DfT is temporarily increasing this limit from 60 hours to 66. | The DfT is temporarily increasing this limit from 60 hours to 66. |
| There will be no change to the requirements for daily rest and breaks. | There will be no change to the requirements for daily rest and breaks. |
| 'Crisis' | 'Crisis' |
| Earlier, ministers in Scotland welcomed the move, saying thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills without it. | Earlier, ministers in Scotland welcomed the move, saying thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills without it. |
| Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock." | Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock." |
| The foot-and-mouth risk area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. | The foot-and-mouth risk area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex. |
| The bluetongue control zone currently comprises parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. | The bluetongue control zone currently comprises parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. |