Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Improving the UK’s science capability for managing animal diseases, published by the National Audit Office on 15 June 2022, what assessment he has made of the reasons for his Department allowing the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge site to deteriorate to a state where some of the facilities were found to be no longer fit for purpose; what steps he is taking to tackle the (a) under-investment and (b) poor strategic management of the site identified by that report; what recent assessment he has made of the site’s ability to respond effectively to a major animal disease outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
We are taking all the necessary steps to secure our animal health science capability. Defra recognised that a complete redevelopment was needed to keep the site fit for purpose and since then has carried out a major programme of critical maintenance and set up the Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) programme - a major investment to secure the long-term future of the Weybridge facility. We have secured funding of £1.4 billion of which £200 million has been allocated for this SR Period to safeguard and enhance the laboratories at Weybridge and secure our vital scientific capability. This substantial investment recognises the Government’s commitment to the strongest possible standards of biosecurity.
We have demonstrated our effective response to significant animal disease outbreaks. For example, Avian Influenza over the last two winter seasons have been the largest on record.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency provides high-quality surveillance, preparedness, detection and response to biosecurity threats from animal diseases - both those that might affect our ability to trade and those which pose a threat to human health. The work which has commenced to safeguard and enhance the Weybridge site will enable its excellent scientists to continue at the forefront of science which protects the country, boosting our resilience against animal diseases.