AN oft repeated argument, regarding the foot and mouth compensationpayments, is that the farmers should have insurance against the disease.

Try telling that to the farmer who paid his premiums for thirty years,only to have his renewal declined, by the insurance company, at the mention of foot and mouth.

How can you keep yourself covered, when the insurance companies refuse to renew you policy?

Also, doesn't foot and mouth insurance only cover animals actually

infected with the disease?

Most animals slaughtered by the Government did not have the disease, but were killed as a "precaution".

Insurance companies do their best to avoid paying out, even in clear cut cases. So I can't imagine them paying out for the millions of healthy animals that have been culled.

Mr T.R. Miles

Teak Street, Bury