Biosecurity

Siobhain McDonagh Excerpts

Wednesday 4th December 2024 Westminster Hall

[Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) (Lab)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered biosecurity.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain, for my first time leading a Westminster Hall debate.

Hon. Members may wonder why I have secured a debate on such a wide-ranging issue as biosecurity. Our changing climate means that new diseases can thrive here in the UK, and more interconnected supply chains put unprecedented pressure on our borders. Stability is vital for food security and economic growth, but biohazards can undermine our vital horticulture and agriculture sectors. These risks are not abstract concepts but tangible realties for the communities we represent. I thank hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Minister, for their support since being elected, because I have faced such biosecurity threats in the South Norfolk constituency.

I bring this matter to the House today because South Norfolk has been directly affected. Many will recall the bluetongue outbreak first identified in Haddiscoe on 26 August this year and the chaos wrought by the largest avian influenza outbreak in 2022-23. I will press the Minister on a number of points, including the need to strengthen our border controls, reappraise the insurance industry’s practices, improve the preparedness of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and collaborate closer with trade bodies. I commend the Government on the much-needed investment of £208 million to transform our biosecurity at the Weybridge site, which is an essential step forward.

Hon. Members will remember the recent bluetongue outbreak, which began in my constituency. It was first identified in the small village of Haddiscoe, and a 20 km temporary control zone was swiftly established, but the situation sadly escalated. By 30 August, Norfolk and Suffolk were placed under restriction zones, and on 2 September they were extended to Essex. By mid-November, control zones stretched from Lowestoft to Southampton, and from Brighton to Scarborough. Some infected animals may experience productivity issues, including a reduced milk yield. In the most severe cases, the disease will cause abortions, malformations and fatalities. However, it is important to note that bluetongue does not affect people, and the meat and milk from infected animals remains safe.

Farmers in South Norfolk and across affected counties have been resilient and conscientious in the face of this outbreak and the restrictions placed upon them, but those living within the restriction zone have been hit by a double whammy, as some abattoirs have implemented price deductions. Some sites looking to cover the additional costs associated with the disease have imposed price cuts of up to 50p per kilo. That impact is being handed down to farmers, despite their having selflessly gone above and beyond to protect their livestock and that of their neighbours. Will the Minister meet me to ensure that farmers are not subjected to more price deductions, and to discuss the long-term measures we can take to prevent future outbreaks?

The 2022-23 avian influenza outbreak was devastating. There were mass sea bird die-offs, and widespread highly pathogenic avian influenza protection zones were put in place across the majority of the country, but particularly in Norfolk. Recent cases of H5N5 in Yorkshire and H5N1 in Cornwall highlight the continuing threat that avian influenza poses to our poultry market.

In addition to biosecurity, there are pressing financial issues. South Norfolk farmers have told me that they find it near impossible to get insurance cover for avian influenza outbreaks, creating the risk that producers will be forced to leave the industry. I would love it if the Minister could say that he will investigate the possibility of picking up where the insurance providers are dropping the ball and failing to provide support. Will he consider a state-backed scheme to help affected farmers to re-enter the poultry industry following an outbreak?

Currently, compensation for AI is paid out to the owners of birds, but many farms operate on a contract basis and so miss out on that compensation. Again, I would love it if the Minister could tell us that he will consider steps to ensure that contractors receive their fair share of compensation from insurers. Of course, there will always be a perpetual worry about border security. Farmers in South Norfolk tell me that they are really concerned about the controls on meat and livestock entering the UK market. Will the Minister consider reassessing the level of controls on those imported goods to give our farmers peace of mind?

African swine fever is a huge issue for Norfolk. We are one of the biggest pork markets—which was obviously a huge deal for the former, rather than the current, Member for South West Norfolk. The UK pig industry is worth £8 billion annually, and faces a potential crisis if African swine fever breaches our borders. The disease is present in multiple European countries, and the consequences of an outbreak could cost between £10 million to £100 million, according to the National Farmers Union.

I welcome the Government’s September 2024 ban on personal imports of pork from high-risk areas, and DEFRA’s £3.1 million investment into the Dover Port Health Authority, which was a much-needed step forward. Given the critical importance of the pork industry to Norfolk, I urge the Minister to outline the further steps he will take to prevent an African swine fever outbreak in the UK.

It is not just livestock, but crops that are a concern for biosecurity. Virus yellows are key for East Anglia because they cause sugar beet diseases. The sugar beet industry is a cornerstone of the British agricultural economy, supporting around 9,500 jobs. It is anchored by four British Sugar factories, all located in the east of England. The sector faces a significant threat from virus yellows, a devastating group of diseases caused by three different viruses.

Those viruses are transmitted by aphids, which feed on the sugar beet crops. Unlike growers on the continent, UK farmers are particularly vulnerable to the virus, due to our maritime climate. Typically, cold winters suppress the aphid population, reducing the risk of transmission. Milder winters, driven by climate change, allow aphids to survive for longer and thrive. If the aphids carry over the disease from the previous year to the new year, they can infest crops as early as spring, compounding the threat to the British sugar beet yields.

The year 2020 serves as a stark warning. A mild winter, combined with early aphid migration, created a perfect storm, leading to a catastrophic loss for many growers. Without interventions, those conditions are likely to become more frequent. NFU Sugar has predicted that the UK sugar beet crop area could shrink by up to 25%, if a sustainable solution is not found for virus yellows.

Genetic engineering offers a promising path forward, and I welcome the Government’s proactive steps in that area, especially as the Norwich Research Park in my constituency hugely benefits from precision breeding legislation. However, as NFU Sugar rightly points out, that is no silver bullet. A truly effective response must form part of a broader integrated strategy, in order to address the challenges posed by viruses.

Will the Minister provide an update on the actions being taken to support the British sugar industry? Specifically, what is being done to accelerate precision breeding efforts, improve aphid management and ensure sustainable yields for farmers in the face of mounting climate-related challenges?

I do not want to focus solely on agriculture. Horticulture is another vital industry for the UK where biosecurity is a critical concern. If plant diseases breach our defences, the consequences could be devastating, not just for growers but for the environment and the wider economy. One of the most pressing threats is Xylella, a bacterial disease hosted by a wide range of plants, including trees such as the British oak. The risk of introduction to the UK via infected host plants is a growing concern.

To tackle that and other biosecurity challenges, the Horticultural Trades Association has laid out several critical recommendations, which I pose to the Minister: first, an urgent summit on border policy; secondly, a review of commodity risk categorisation; thirdly, enhanced pest and disease testing capabilities; and finally, active international engagement to reassure the global horticultural market and the fresh produce supply chains that the UK is open for trade in a safe and secure manner.

Biosecurity is not merely about safeguarding industries; it is about protecting the livelihoods of farmers and the food security of the nation. In South Norfolk, from poultry and sugar beet to livestock, our communities are working tirelessly to meet those challenges. I know that they have the full support of the House in the actions they are taking to protect us all.

I call on the Minister to act decisively to strengthen our borders, work with insurers, and provide the resources and partnerships needed to maintain for the UK’s biosecurity resilience the world-class status it deserves. Let us meet these challenges head-on, ensuring that our agricultural and horticultural industries remain robust for generations to come.

[Dame Siobhain McDonagh (in the Chair)]

I remind Members that should they wish to contribute to the debate they should bob.