DEFRA Debate
During a debate on the work of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Philip Dunne asks the Secretary of State whether the Department had ordered a foot and mouth vaccine for the 1967 virus prior to the outbreak in August.
Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): The Secretary of State mentioned the budget for spending on animal health and, in particular, foot and mouth disease viruses. Can he assure the House that there were no instructions from DEFRA for the development of a foot and mouth vaccine for the 1967 virus prior to the outbreak of the disease in August?
Hilary Benn: I am afraid that I do not understand the question-
Mr. Dunne: Did he order a vaccine for the 1967 virus before the outbreak emerged in August?
Hilary Benn: The answer has to be no, because the 1967 virus was not present in the country. We only put contingency plans in place to vaccinate should it prove necessary once the outbreak was confirmed. In the end, we decided not to vaccinate, because the triggers that we had set in the contingency plan were not met.
