Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, the only vet in the House of Commons, spoke in the Commons in an urgent Ministerial Statement concerning the UK’s catastrophic outbreak of Avian Influenza.
The Cumbrian MP said his thoughts went out to all those affected before asking DEFRA Minister, Mark Spencer MP, to adequately staff and resource the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is responsible for identifying and controlling animal diseases.
Despite being on the frontline of the UK’s biosecurity defences, the APHA was at the centre of a damning report calling for urgent redevelopment of its headquarters in Weybridge, Surrey.
In July Dr Hudson issued a stark warning over the need to fund the APHA, which currently needs and estimated £2.8 billion to transform the Weybridge site, but has only formally secured £1.2 billion from the Treasury. This was after he heard evidence from veterinary experts, Government officials and even the APHA’s Chief Executive during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee that he attended on behalf of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, of which he is a member..
The recent Avian Influenza outbreak has highlighted, in a dramatic fashion, the need for robust animal disease control infrastructure. DEFRA has implemented a raft of measures to control the outbreak including a housing order for all birds in England, as well as moves to clarify the compensation available to breeders and make sure food supplies will be maintained in the busy Christmas period.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson MP, said:
“ My thoughts go out to the farmers, vets and officials on the front line coping with and tackling the disease at this incredibly stressful time. This has huge effects on our local economy and the mental health of our rural communities. Animal health and welfare and our biosecurity are vital. It is crucial that APHA, the Government body that oversees these areas, is resourced adequately and future proofed.
“Having been in the front line as a vet during 2001’s tragic Foot and Mouth crisis I know only too well the horrendous consequences animal disease outbreaks can have on our rural communities and our mental health and on our farming and tourism industries.
“This Avian Influenza outbreak has brought our scientific capabilities for managing animal diseases into sharp relief.
“Here in Cumbria farming is critical to our local economy and at the heart of our rural communities. We must stand up for these farmers and communities and properly fund the APHA, otherwise the consequences in the future could be devastating.”
