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

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much compensation was paid to farmers in the UK in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, and (3) 2021, in respect of avian flu.

Compensation payments are devolved. In line with the Animal Health Act 1981, compensation is payable for healthy birds only. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat.

In 2019, there was a single case of notifiable avian influenza confirmed in England. As the amount of compensation that individual owners receive is not disclosed, the compensation paid has been combined with payments made in 2020.

In 2020 (including 2019) £103,000 compensation was paid to poultry owners in England.

In 2021, £2.65 million compensation was paid to poultry owners in England.