The role of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in containing the spread of E. coli 0157 infection from Godstone Farm has been to provide health advice to the local authority, as the enforcing authority for Godstone Farm, and to the local primary care trust and the national health service, all of whom have responsibility for taking action. The advice the HPA has given has been acted upon and there has been successful prevention of the spread of infection from the farm. The farm closed on 12 September. With regard to the HPA's wider role in diagnosis, detection and surveillance of E. coli 0157 infection in respect of this particular outbreak, the HPA has already apologised for its lack of timely advice at the commencement of the outbreak and an independent investigation of the outbreak, has been announced by the HPA.