Zoonoses: Research

(asked on 7th March 2022) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase research opportunities for the identification and management of zoonotic diseases.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 14th March 2022

Science-based evidence is at the heart of our policy making in Defra. Zoonotic infections threaten both human and animal health and we have systems in place to detect and manage outbreaks, for both endemic (those that are already found in the UK) and exotic infections. We collaborate closely with the public health agencies, as outlined in our contingency plan on how we would work with other Government agencies and departments to control zoonotic diseases as well as those only affecting livestock. This is being put to use at the moment, through our response to avian influenza outbreaks. These plans rely heavily on the most up-to-date evidence base, whether considering new diagnostic technology, delivery of control measures, surveillance, tracing or prevention with vaccination.

To this end, we have allocated £200 million to the Animal and Plant Health Agency science campus at Weybridge. This substantial investment recognises the essential role of this Government capability, as the first stage of a long-term programme of work to safeguard and enhance facilities. This will enable its world-leading scientists to continue at the forefront of research and policy to protect people, the environment and the economy, by boosting our resilience and strengthening our understanding of health risks to, and from, animals and plants.

In addition, in the latest Spending Review, Defra received an uplift to their capital DEL for evidence R&D to support science programme spend for three years. This includes programmes for endemic and exotic diseases, for new emerging diseases and for zoonotic disease programmes.

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