To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he received on biosecurity from (a) the Institute for Animal Health, (b) Merial, (c) the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, (d) the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and its predecessor the Department for Trade and Industry and (e) other sources on the Pirbright laboratory facility prior to August 2007. (159598)

As lead regulator and licensor of the Institute for Animal Health and Merial under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) 1998, DEFRA held frequent discussions with representatives from those facilities about biosecurity prior to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Surrey. I am not aware of any representations specifically relating to biosecurity at the Pirbright facility from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Trade and Industry or other sources during this period.