Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
52nd Report - Resilience to threats from animal disease
Public Accounts Committee
HC 885
Published 5 November 2025
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifth-second report from Session 2024-26 · published 19 Jan 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
31
Conclusion
Deferred
Bovine TB policy changes create efficacy concerns, leaving farmers vulnerable to worsening reactors.
Conclusion
We are concerned about the future efficacy of policy changes for managing Bovine TB. The badger cull, which we understand seems to have been effective in reducing Bovine TB, has been largely terminated.47 Yet, a new cattle vaccine seems to …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and aims for implementation by Summer 2027, committing to provide an update and examine strategic themes to strengthen long-term resilience to animal disease. This will involve a review considering ongoing negotiations and other strategic interdependencies.
HM Treasury
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32
Conclusion
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 …
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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.
HM Treasury
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