Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Deferred
Department lacks comprehensive long-term strategy integrating biosecurity capability building work.
Conclusion
The Department said it is undertaking a range of strategic capability building work that will improve long-term resilience, including redeveloping the National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge, developing a multi-species livestock tracing system, and modernising APHA’s systems and processes. The Department recognised that there is no long-term strategy that brings all its work together in a comprehensive way and confirmed that it will be working on this over the next 18 months. The Department also explained 43 C&AG’s report, paras 4.8-4.9 44 Dr Alexander Waller (TAD0001); The Pirbright Institute (TAD0008); Royal Society of Biology (TAD0009); Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) (TAD0012); British Veterinary Association (TAD0013), NFU (TAD0015) 45 Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Statement of Intent: UK Veterinary Vaccine Availability, 11 September 2025 46 The Pirbright Institute (TAD0008) 47 Letter from Defra to Committee, 18 September 2025 48 Letter from Defra to Committee, 18 September 2025 16 that this will form part of a larger piece of work led by the Cabinet Office to strengthen the UK’s resilience to a range of biosecurity threats across human, animal and plant health.49 49 Qq 59-60 17
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to develop a long-term strategy to strengthen long-term resilience to animal disease, and will provide an update in Summer 2027.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2027 9.2 The department will provide an update on progress with this recommendation as 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. 9.3 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.