Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 5 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 October 2007. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 October 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animals: Disease Control

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess whether there is any continuing risk to the farming industry from a failure of bio-security at the (a) Compton and (b) Pirbright sites of the Institute for Animal Health.

Answer: All the recommendations in the reports by the Health and Safety Executive and Professor Spratt applying to the Government, the Institute of Animal Health and Merial have been accepted and already have been, or are being, implemented. In addition, as set out in the Government Statement of 7 September 2007 in response to these investigations, we have taken action that goes beyond these recommendations. These measures ensure the highest level of bio-security at Pirbright and at other laboratories working with specified animal pathogens.

Secondary information