A STARK warning of the inevitability of a future foot-and-mouth type crisis was issued this week.

Mr Anthony Bosanquet, national president of the Country Land and Business Association, said there was no question about it. That was why the government must hold an open and independent inquiry into the current crisis so proper contingency plans could be drawn up.

People would not stand for a repeat of what had happened during the existing crisis.

The CLA did not know whether vaccination was the answer, but it was a question which should be addressed.

"It is not if, but when, another infectious disease will hit us. It is inevitable that there will be another disease of some sort," he said. "We have got to have proper strategic planning and know whether vaccination is the answer.

"Whatever else foot-and-mouth has shown, it is that without proper contingency resources in place we are really in a mess."

He vowed that the CLA would continue to press for a short and sharp independent public inquiry - not one that would drag on for months or even years.

It was essential, when more than £4bn of tax payers money had been spent on the disease. The government would lose all credibility if it continued to refuse such an inquiry.

He questioned how the three inquiries the government had announced would co-ordinate their findings.

Mr Bosanquet was speaking before Tuesday's annual meeting of the Yorkshire CLA at Broughton Hall, Skipton.

A member of the Rural Task Force set up by the Prime Minister, he said the wider rural economy was now at a critical point - particularly that part connected with tourism.

"Normally they would build up fat in the profitable summer months and re-invest in winter and prepare for the next season," he said. "But the majority have not had that build up of fat and I do not believe the government understands just how serious this is, or how much money is involved - it could be hundreds of millions of pounds just to keep these going."

Although rates and tax payments for many had been deferred until the end of the year, the government had not said what would happen on January 1, 2002.

Businesses would still not be in a position to pay up.

"We would suggest these debts should be written off," said Mr Bosanquet. "If the government is not prepared to do that, it should at least wait until these businesses are back in profit and have re-established themselves."

The CLA argued that would be better than seeing the businesses go under and the devastation which that would cause to the rural economy.

"That would be so serious and catastrophic that putting it back together again would not only be incredibly difficult but would also cost infinitely more than the support we are suggesting," he said.

The CLA had produced its own rural recovery plan which had four key points:

l re-building consumer confidence in British food and the ability to produce it;

l restoring profitability to farming and rural businesses and ensuring that whatever enters the country is produced to the same controls and legislation as UK producers must meet;

l a planning system which allows diversification;

l ensuring that Defra works as a joined up ministry.

Mr Bosanquet said the control and elimination of foot-and-mouth disease must remain the top priority.

There were huge problems caused by movement of livestock restrictions and shortage of food.

As he toured the country, he said, the accumulation of stress and strain on people was very obvious. "There is the worry, the lack of knowing when it is really going to end, and the worry about what people are going to do afterwards," said Mr Bosanquet.

He was particularly struck by the strain many people working for RABI and the Addington Fund were feeling. They had listened to, and tried to help, so many people affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis, that they were also hugely affected