Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Acknowledged
Provide an update on developing a comprehensive long-term strategy for animal diseases
Conclusion
The Department does not have an overarching long-term strategy for strengthening resilience to the increasing risk from animal diseases. The Department has several strategic programmes underway to strengthen resilience to animal diseases, including the redevelopment of the National Biosecurity Centre and developing an integrated animal tracing system. However, there is no overarching strategy and plan which brings this work together in a comprehensive and integrated way. The Department plans to develop such a strategy over the next 18 months. recommendation The Department should provide the Committee with an update in 18 months’ time on its progress in developing a long-term strategy for animal diseases. The strategy should be sufficiently comprehensive and reflect interdependencies with the other areas of the Department’s work, such as on plant health and honeybees. 6 1 Preparedness for a major animal disease outbreak Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to the recommendation, stating it will examine strategic themes to strengthen long-term resilience to animal disease and integrate interdependencies from other related strategies and reforms. It implicitly commits to providing an update on this strategy's development in 18 months.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. requested by the Committee, noting that the negotiations for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, and timescales involved, will need to be integrated into development of this work. The department will examine strategic themes to determine how to strengthen long-term resilience to animal disease. The review will take account of other strategic interdependencies such as the livestock ID and traceability reforms, APHA’s systems reforms, upgrades to the National Biosecurity Centre, Veterinary Workforce and Vaccine Availability strategies and the UK Biological Security Strategy.