Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Rejected
While the APHA and the Chief Veterinary Officer said that animal diseases had not gone...
Recommendation
While the APHA and the Chief Veterinary Officer said that animal diseases had not gone down in their priorities, the Department and the APHA said that animal disease is one amongst a range of national risks that need to be managed.14 The Department stated that it thought there was a good understanding across government of the threats posed by animal diseases and zoonotic diseases, and that it will continue to have conversations across government to ensure this understanding is maintained. However, we remain concerned that the Department’s animal disease and public health voice across government is not strong enough.15 The deterioration and delayed redevelopment of the Weybridge site also suggests that managing the risks from animal diseases has not historically been given the necessary priority.16 The historical management of the Weybridge site
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation, stating that Defra already highlights the threat from animal diseases in the National Risk Register and participates in other risk assessment processes.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
1. PAC conclusion: We are greatly concerned that the UK government is not sufficiently prioritising the threat from animal diseases. 1a. PAC recommendation: The Department must be more effective in highlighting the significant threat from animal diseases and ensure that the next update to the National Risk Register adequately reflects the seriousness of this threat. 1.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 1.2 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) already highlights the threat from animal diseases in the National Risk Register (NRR). In the most recent Register, Defra has updated with additional threats identified as being the highest impacts for the 6 different livestock sectors, including African horse sickness and African swine fever. Defra will continue to contribute actively to NRR processes. 1.3 The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) covers all possible biological threats, risks to infrastructure and security and deliberate threats, including animal health. The same scoring methodology applies to all threats, weighted to prioritise public health and environmental impact. Animal diseases score less highly against threats where high numbers of human fatalities or long-term environmental impacts are likely. 1.4 The effective action provided by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Weybridge is one reason why animal health risk scores as it does. The science that takes place there – and across the country – is a strong mitigation, controlling and reducing threat to the public and environment. These threats are regularly reviewed and added to as new threats emerge. 1.5 Defra has its own risk assessment process for more immediate biological threats and consequential impact. Monthly risk reporting (for animal, plant and invasive species threats) informs the department’s internal risk management processes. 1.6 Defra Chairs the Human and Animal Infections Risk & Surveillance group (HAIRS), which was active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic providing risk assessments for zoonotic and reverse zoonotic threats from SARS-CoV-2. The chair participants in the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), and the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens where new and emerging zoonotic disease threats are raised. 1.7 Defra co-funds the International Natural Hazard Forward Look, providing weekly expert advice to government on emerging hazards overseas. Defra funds the development of a public facing platform improving international communication of significant threats.