Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Local authority capacity for routine animal disease surveillance has significantly diminished over time.
Conclusion
The Department set out concerns it has about the capacity of local authority trading standards officers to undertake routine surveillance activities. While local authorities have stepped up to provide extra resources during recent outbreaks, capacity to undertake business-as-usual activities such as visiting livestock markets has reduced over the last 15 years.19 Work on animal diseases is competing with other local authority priorities and statutory responsibilities where there is limited capacity and financial resource.20