To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans there are for his Department to deal with more than one animal disease outbreak occurring at the same time. (210823)

DEFRA’s generic Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases for England is reviewed and amended annually (as required under the Animal Health Act 2002) and covers arrangements for dealing with a range of exotic animal diseases. The Contingency Plan was used for the response to the simultaneous outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue and Avian Influenza in 2007 and would be used if there are simultaneous outbreaks of different exotic animal diseases in the future.

The Contingency Plan is subject to ongoing revision based on the latest scientific advice, developments in policy and comments from stakeholders and operational partners together with lessons identified from disease outbreaks.