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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase biosecurity for poultry in Dorset and West Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

An England-wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is currently in place which requires all captive bird keepers, including those of poultry and regardless of the size of the flock, to put enhanced biosecurity measures in place. Measures include feeding and watering birds indoors to minimise mixing with wild birds; minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures; cleaning and disinfecting footwear; and keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy.

The Prevention Zone will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of our work to monitor the threat of avian influenza.