In his final parliamentary contribution of 2024, Dr Neil Hudson MP continued his campaign to fully fund a critical development for UK biosecurity with a heartfelt plea to the Environment Secretary urging him to act.
As a Shadow DEFRA Minister, a Veterinary Surgeon, and MP for protected ecological spaces in his Epping Forest constituency, Dr Hudson is passionate about making sure animal disease outbreaks are kept at bay
The heart of the UK's biosecurity defences is the Animal and Plant Health Agency's headquarters in Weybridge. However with critical building failures compromising their laboratory capabilities, the independent National Audit Office has shone a light on the £2.8 billion needed to redevelop the site.
The previous Conservative Government committed £1.2 billion to begin this process but instead of following this up with the remaining £1.6 billion, the new Labour Government has only committed a fraction of this much-needed investment.
As the first Veterinary Surgeon elected to the House of Commons since 1884 and with direct experiences of supervising culling animals in the catastrophic Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001, Dr Hudson has been passionately and repeatedly campaigning on the issue.
Recent campaigning includes:
- Biosecurity - Hansard - UK Parliament
- Dr Neil Hudson writes in the Daily Express urging the Chancellor to properly fund UK’s Biosecurity ahead of the Budget | Dr Neil Hudson
- In the media: Veterinary MP Dr Neil Hudson sounds Biosecurity alarm over illegal meat imports | Dr Neil Hudson
- Dr Neil Hudson MP urges Government to Protect Food Security and Biosecurity | Dr Neil Hudson
His most recent comments came on the final day in which the House of Commons sat before Christmas where he was able to directly quiz the Environment Secretary on his Government's incomplete policy.
Dr Hudson specifically drew attention to the Labour frontbench's support for the redevelopment project before the General Election and urged Ministers to follow through on their commitments or risk an animal disease outbreak catastrophe.
In the Chamber, Dr Neil Hudson MP asked the Environment Secretary:
"The Autumn Budget put family farms in jeopardy. Now, these farms also need biosecurity to protect their futures. With avian influenza spreading, bluetongue still with us, and African swine fever at our doorstep in Europe, biosecurity is national security.
"Central to that is the Animal and Plant Health Agency, whose HQ in Weybridge needs a £2.8 billion redevelopment to protect farming, animal, plant and public health. The Conservative Government quite rightly started this work with £1.2 billion committed 2020. I note that Labour have committed £200 million to support this transformation, but, Mr Speaker, this will not touch the sides.
"Will the Minister confirm that the Government will complete this project in full, as the Minister called for in Opposition, and commit the remaining £1.4 billion pounds to protect our nation's biosecurity and prevent an animal disease outbreak catastrophe?"
Reflecting on the session, Dr Neil Hudson MP added:
"I am in no way blind to the constraints on the public purse, but the cost of inaction will dwarf up front costs. In the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis, I was on the frontline as vet supervising some of the distressing animal culls when I saw sights I never want to see again in my lifetime. But beyond the personal cost, the National Audit Office estimates that when adjusted for inflation, that outbreak cost the public sector £5.2 billion, and the private sector £8.7 billion.
"We must act now on biosecurity, or risk a potential catastrophe on the horizon, not just for animal health and welfare but for our economy, our international standing and also for human public health.
“I do hope while Labour Ministers are eating their turkey, with all the trimmings this Christmas, that they spare a thought for the tireless British farming communities who have put that meal on their plate. Communities that have been through the mill with inheritance tax increases, mental health pressures and extreme weather events - and must be protected from the prospect of animal disease outbreaks down the line.”
