Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the movement of unaffected livestock while restrictions for Bluetongue disease are in place.

Upon detection of bluetongue disease in Kent in November and Norfolk in December during our routine surveillance, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officials took immediate and robust action. Affected animals have been humanely culled and Temporary Control Zones have been put in place to prevent potential spread of disease by restricting movements of ruminant and camelid animals. Surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments within these zones continue and we will review the need for the Zones when this is complete.

Keepers of ruminants and camelids in the Zones can apply for licences to move for most purposes, including for welfare, movements into and within the zones and direct to slaughter. We continue to work closely with industry representatives to ensure that keepers are kept up to date with developments and that issues and concerns are addressed promptly.