Sir, - While it is to be expected that most people have sympathy with the country's farmers during the current foot-and-mouth epidemic, I wonder if as many realise the discomfiture suffered by farm workers?

Their annual pay increase, which is usually implemented each June, has this year been postponed until October, ostensibly due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Also this rise will not be backdated, meaning the original percentage rise given will be significantly reduced, resulting in a serious shortfall to an already low income. This appears to be fundamentally wrong when vast amounts of taxpayers' money has been made available for ancillary work deployed during the culling and cleaning up operations, and especially in the light of recent announcements of very substantial compensation pay-outs to some farmers.

I think it is true to say that, despite incurring losses of stock, most farmers have, or will be, adequately compensated. Meanwhile, the farm worker has to suffer his loss of income without hope of compensation, so once again has to take a step back down the economic ladder.

DAVID KING

Orchard Row,

Burrill,

Bedale.

Sir, - I refer to Margaret Ashbridge's letter (DST, July 20) with regard to the plight of farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The valuation office (which is part of the Inland Revenue) is responsible for determining which businesses should be rated, and gives each business a rateable value. It would seem that they have just realised that farmers need to diversify into other forms of business in order to make a living.

Those farmers that have started businesses operating from their farms have now been told that some of their buildings, which were formerly exempt from rates are now liable for rates.

If this were not bad enough for farmers trying to make a living, the valuation office have done this at a time which has enabled them to backdate the introduction of rates for a number of years.

I have to say that the timing of the valuation office's action appears insensitive to say the least.

Hambleton District Council is required to collect the rates according to the rateable value determined by the valuation office. It has no option over this matter.

The council is of course sympathetic to the plight of the farmers, and indeed all those businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis. However, it cannot crystal ball gaze and guess which businesses is affected and which is not.

The council has already deferred rate payments for over 150 businesses and implemented a relief scheme. However, before we can help them, businesses need to get in touch with us as early as possible.

Anyone that does will receive a sympathetic hearing and we will do all that we can to help.

COUN ARTHUR BARKER

Deputy leader,

Hambleton District Council.

Sir, - In the last ten days or so, Defra has done the following:

Curtailed disinfection, transferring much of the cost on to the farmer; revised the basis for valuation, downwards; issued constant press releases, casting blame upon farmers for continuing to spread the disease through poor bio-security and illegal stock movements.

There is ample evidence to prove "gross" mismanagement by the present and previous ministers and a great amount of anecdotal evidence, on standards of MAFF/Defra vehicle logistics and work contracts of disposal and cleaning.

The antagonism between the livestock farming community from infected areas and Defra is mounting as blame is increasingly heaped upon these people.

It is our belief that until the government confirms the original source of the disease, the situation will continue to worsen.

It is finally our belief, that the ministry labs at Pirbright can clarify the original source and, whatever that might be, the original cause of the disease will have been the responsibility of this government and consequently, it must accept full responsibility and cost of the epidemic!

PHILIP HOLDEN

Chairman, Rejuvenate,

14 Galgate,

Barnard Castle.

Sir, - Earlier this year Thirsk races were cancelled owing to the threat from foot-and-mouth. With the recent outbreak of local cases and the implementation of strict bio-security measures gone, the situation is now much more serious. I am therefore at a loss to understand why the race meeting at Thirsk went ahead last week, especially as so many other local events have been cancelled.

MS SUE COATES

Cleveland Way,

Carlton Miniott,

Thirsk.