Business people across the Highlands and Islands are being urged to contact a new freephone number to provide details of how the foot and mouth outbreak is affecting their business.

The survey, which is being co-ordinated in the region by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), aims to collate information from as many sources as possible to build up a detailed picture of the economic impact the outbreak is having on a range of industries including agriculture, tourism, food processing and haulage.

All calls will be treated in strict confidence. Information gained from callers will be collated into an area-wide report to be forwarded to the Scottish Executive every week.

The service aims to provide hard financial, employment and other measures and will complement information received by business membership groups such as area tourist boards and the Scottish National Farmers Union.

The number to call is 0800 027 5550.

Lines open at 12.00 noon on Friday (16th March 2001) and will be staffed every day from then on, between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm, including weekends.

Callers are being asked for information on a range of key impacts, including:

* loss of orders or bookings;

* reduced business enquiries;

* job losses, and

* effects on business turnover.

Sandy Cumming, chief executive of HIE, said it was vital that Scotland's economic development agencies were able to build up a reasonably accurate picture of the effects of foot and mouth on a range of business sectors.

"The scale of the present emergency is something which has to be properly measured and assessed and we are asking for help from all affected businesses across the Highlands and Islands in order to be able to do this," said Mr Cumming.

"Farming, haulage, food and tourism businesses are obvious areas of immediate concern, but we realise that the impact of foot and mouth is being felt across a much broader range of industries as well.

"Information gathered through this present exercise will be crucial in informing the Impact Assessment Group established by the Scottish Executive and I would urge any affected business person to please make use of the freephone number."