THE increasing spread of bluetongue disease across Exmoor raised serious concerns requiring action now, without waiting for Parliament to return next month, local MP Rachel Gilmour said.

Mrs Gilmour wrote to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael questioning Government preparedness for an outbreak.

Exmoor hill farmers have been among the worst hit in the country by the disease, which is carried by midges and mainly affects sheep and cattle.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) put the number of cases across Exmoor at 131 as of August 5.

Mrs Gilmour, co-chairman of the Farming All Party Parliamentary Group, said she was concerned about Defra’s contingency planning, given the known risk of bluetongue spreading from Europe, and whether sufficient preventative measures had been in place.

She expressed worry about the Pirbright Institute’s apparent lack of testing capacity, and queried an absence of contingency provision for extra tests during periods of heightened demand.

Authorising more laboratories to help process bluetongue tests would cut turnaround times, she said.

Mrs Gilmour wrote: “The impact of bluetongue on livestock farmers and rural communities has the potential to be very significant indeed.

“I would be grateful if the committee could consider these matters as part of its scrutiny of the Government’s response.”

Mr Carmichael promised immediate action rather than waiting for his committee to reconvene in September.

Mrs Gilmour said: “I am hearing from farmers about the dire situation they are currently facing.

“Defra needs to explain why there appears to be a lack of testing capacity for an outbreak of this scale.

“Farmers on Exmoor do not have time to wait for Westminster to come back from recess, they need action now.

“Our farmers are on the frontline of climate change, and they need a Government that can provide the necessary support.

“Food security is national security.”