Biosecurity Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateJim Shannon
Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)Department Debates - View all Jim Shannon's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(1 week, 1 day ago)
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It is an absolute pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain, and to see you in your place once again. I thank the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough) for leading the debate on this important issue. I also see the chair of the all-party parliamentary group, the hon. Member for York Outer (Mr Charters), in his place, and I look forward to his contribution. It used to be the eggs, pigs and poultry APPG, and then it was elevated to biodiversity, which I hope was a positive move in the right direction—I always thought eggs, pigs and poultry were more exciting, but that is by the way.
The remit for biosecurity is shared across Government, and the Cabinet Office leads on cross-cutting strategy and preparation. However, some policies on biosecurity are devolved and fall under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs back home in Northern Ireland, so it is important that we discuss these things here in their totality.
I commend the Minister—I am glad to see him in his place—because one of the first things he did when Labour got into power was go to all of the regions of the United Kingdom. I admire him for that, because it showed a Minister who clearly wanted to discuss matters with all the regions in an integrated way. When I make a contribution about Northern Ireland, I know that the Minister will respond positively with the answers, which we look forward to getting. It is also nice to see the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson), in his place; I wish him well in his new role. I am also pleased to see the Lib Dem spokesperson, the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke), in her new role on the Front Bench. The hon. Lady usually sits here with the Back Benchers but, for today at least, she has been elevated. I look forward to her contribution as well.
I represent a largely costal and rural constituency and have a fantastic relationship—I believe, anyway—with many local fishermen and farmers. I live on a farm on the Ards peninsula—I declare an interest as a member of the Ulster Farmers Union—and, coming from that background, I understand the importance of our biodiversity policies and the methods that must be used to protect against disease.
I want to mention the examples of what has happened back home with avian influenza and tuberculosis to show why biodiversity is so important. There are several notable diseases of concern within the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland. These include avian influenzas, bluetongue, African swine fever and TB. I was grateful to meet with Paul Stewart some time ago, the centre manager of Castle Espie, a wetland centre just outside Comber in my constituency. The centre, which is run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, is absolutely incredible. It is fantastic for observing and discovering wildlife, and it hosts incredible events for people of all ages. It is very much a must-see venue.
Unfortunately, the centre had to temporarily close due to the confirmed presence of avian influenza. The discovery of a suspect case led to a 1.9 mile—3 km—temporary disease control zone being erected around the wetland reserve. That was absolutely tragic, but they are now out the other side. The avian influenza has been controlled and is no longer there. I am pleased to say the centre has now reopened with a disease prevention strategy in place. I believe that is incredibly important for the protection of the birds, staff and visitors, and everyone in and around the area.
Only days ago, DAERA commenced a review of Northern Ireland’s approach to tackling bovine TB back home. It is a deadly disease that farmers are always at their wits’ end worrying about. Around 10% of herds across Northern Ireland are affected by the disease, which cost the public purse some £55.7 million in 2023-24. My neighbours had a case of TB—they are dairy people and milk more than 170 cattle, and also have beef livestock and calves. They had an outbreak of TB. It affected some 40 of their cattle—not all of them, thank goodness, but it still had an incredible effect on the farmer.
It is always had to quantify this, but I know farmers, and I know my neighbour, and I know how hard he works. To see those 40 calves going away in the lorry to be destroyed—I could see the ache in his heart, which cannot be quantified. Farmers do not just raise their livestock and do all the things they do on their farm to necessarily make money; they have a love of their livestock, as my neighbour clearly has. Furthermore, £36.5 million, almost two thirds of that total of £55.7 million, was paid in compensation to farmers for the removal of animals. It is good that that happens, but it underlines how deadly that disease can be.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has said that the review that has now been undertaken contains “no meaningful action” to address the bovine TB crisis in Northern Ireland. On Saturday morning, the Ulster Farmers’ Union expressed concerns in Farmers Weekly on behalf of its members: the farmers. Has the Minister had any discussions with the Minister back home on bovine TB and how it can be eradicated? I am ever mindful that farming is a devolved matter, and therefore the Minister here will have no say in what happens. However, the hon. Member for South Norfolk tells me that he has had constructive discussions with the Department back home, so it would be interesting to hear what is happening on that.
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is best to liaise across the regions of the UK to replicate best practice? For example, where something to combat the bovine TB issue he talks about is working well, it should be replicated elsewhere. The Minister can hopefully play a part, in consultation with colleagues, to ensure that best practice is repeated across the UK.
I thank my hon. Friend and colleague for that. On best practice, the Minister, other hon. Members, and you, Dame Siobhain, will know that I always think it important to share ideas across this United Kingdom. Where things are working, whether at county level, regional level or whatever it may be, those examples should be taken and given to others.
The TB outbreak just happened in the last two to three months. I understand the pain that my neighbour felt and the impact that it had on him. Bovine TB is a fatal disease that needs a proper prevention and control strategy. On DAERA’s review, the Ulster Farmers’ Union deputy president has stated:
“There’s extremely limited focus on the most critical issue – the need for an effective eradication programme that addresses all sources of infection. While it references biosecurity measures including post-movement testing and restrictions, it’s not enough to only have biosecurity measures.”
I would be grateful if DEFRA committed to discussions with the Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Andrew Muir, to assess what DAERA’s review is missing and see what more the UK Government can do to support the eradication of bovine TB and support our farmers further.
We have seen in the last month the dangers and potential risks to our biosecurity. A case of bluetongue was found in Wales, for example, and panic—I use that word purposefully, because it was probably at that level—ensued across the United Kingdom about bluetongue and its implications. The hon. Member for South Norfolk referred to bluetongue in his introduction; and I thank him for that. As he clearly outlined, farmers want to protect their herds, their flocks, their business and their farms, and such dangers can have an absolutely critical effect. An outbreak of avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry in England. It affected one of the largest poultry flocks on the mainland.
There is still more to be done to tackle and eradicate all these diseases. They have such an impact on livestock and on farmers. I believe that, to tackle these diseases properly, we must work together to ensure that our strategies are regionally aligned and sustainable. I look forward to engaging further on this matter, and I thank the hon. Member for South Norfolk for bringing this topic to the Chamber. I very much look forward to other contributions and to a constructive and helpful response from the Minister.
My hon. Friend makes an important point. Insurance is a complicated issue, but my officials are in discussions about what we might be able to do. Let me conclude—
First, I thank the Minister for his responses to us. I know that he will do this, but just to have it on the record in Hansard I ask him this question: will he have some discussions with the Minister back home, Andrew Muir, in relation to bovine TB? We have had some of the biggest outbreaks in all of the United Kingdom. Is it possible to work better and more closely together to try to address this issue? I understand that Minister Muir would love to hear from him and get his thoughts.
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I very much enjoyed meeting Minister Muir a few months before the election, when I was the shadow Minister. Interestingly, it was bovine TB that was being discussed in the Assembly that very day. I absolutely take the hon. Gentleman’s point. I am keen to visit. When we are not having weekly debates on other issues, maybe there will be the opportunity to go to talk to friends in the devolved Administrations.
The Government do not underestimate the biosecurity threats we face or the challenges that the agricultural and horticultural sectors are facing. We will continue to test our capabilities regularly to ensure resilience and respond to those threats through exercises and horizon scanning. We will learn lessons when outbreaks do occur and make the necessary improvements. We will continue to work closely with sector groups on preparedness and response, and we remain ever grateful for their insight and commitment.
I thank all hon. Members for a well-informed and thoughtful discussion. I genuinely believe there are many opportunities ahead for the agricultural and horticultural sectors. We are absolutely committed to making the most of them, and to ensuring that the industry can best contribute to our country’s food security and economic growth.