Local farmers could face ruin if the case of foot and mouth reported in Surrey spreads into the cattle population, Monmouth MP David Davies said after speaking to farmers unions on Monday. "Even if the outbreak is contained there will be ramifications. The animal movement ban is already causing problems for sheep farmers who will not be able to get their produce to the markets," Mr Davies said. "The last outbreak of foot and mouth cost the country around £13billion according to some estimates. "To put these figures into proportion they are not much less than the entire budget for the Welsh Assembly which finances most public services in Wales. "The government has acted correctly to impose an immediate ban on animal movements. "We must now ascertain whether the outbreak originated at a research centre near to the farm where it was first reported, or from elsewhere. "However, we still need to learn lessons about the handling of the last outbreak and it is disgraceful that no public enquiry was held into this on grounds of costs." Mr Davies said an enquiry was needed to examine the way in which the outbreak was managed and why the disease spreads so quickly. "It should also look at the relative merits of using a mass cull to eradicate the disease as opposed to vaccination which merely contains it. "Many farmers believe that another outbreak is inevitable because not enough is being done to prevent infected foodstuff from entering Britain from countries where foot and mouth is prevalent especially from South America. "If an enquiry had already taken place we would be in a better position today to deal with the current outbreak. As it is there is a danger that the authorities could end up repeating some of the mistakes which were made." Mr Davies said he would be keeping in close contact with the farming unions as the current situation developed. Meanwhile National Assembly Member for Monmouth Nick Ramsay is calling on the Assembly Government to act in the best interests of Welsh farmers. Mr Ramsay said: "This disease must be stamped out so there is no risk of it affecting Monmouthshire. "Back in 2001 farming in this country was devastated by the foot and mouth outbreak and the countryside took years to fully recover. "The impact on Welsh farmers and rural business was immense. We cannot afford the rapid spread that occurred back then. " He said he would be liaising with local farmers and pressing for any necessary action. "It is vital that the Welsh Assembly Government is prepared for all eventualities. The farming community in Monmouthshire could depend on their decisive action. "In the meantime I would urge all farmers to remain vigilant."