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Written question asked by Neil Hudson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 September 2025 (named day). It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to hold discussions with the Animal and Plant Health Agency on their ability to respond to category five animal disease outbreaks.

Answer

Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency regularly discuss capacity and capability to manage disease outbreaks at a variety of governance boards including the Outbreak Readiness Board and the Disease Emergency Response Committee.

APHA has dealt with multiple disease incidents in 7 of the last 10 years, including concurrent outbreaks of bluetongue and avian influenza since 2023.

In the Public Accounts Committee hearing on 4 September, Defra acknowledged that a category 5 outbreak would pose challenges and explained that there are contracts and agreements in place that would enable draw down of additional veterinary and administrative capacity.

Outbreak structures and governance are set out in the ‘Contingency Plan for Exotic Notifiable Diseases of Animals in England’ published on GOV.UK. This is reviewed annually.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
76056
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Animals Disease control Standards Animal and Plant Health Agency
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk