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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's long-term education, vaccination and disease-control strategy is to prevent bluetongue virus serotype 3 becoming an annual cycle of infection, reproductive losses and reduced livestock production.

Bluetongue will likely recur in 2027. The best way to protect against reproductive and production losses is to vaccinate early. Defra supports the industry-led Battle Bluetongue campaign and continues to encourage animal keepers to speak to their vet about vaccination. The department take part in industry led webinars and provide other communications. During her recent roundtable with industry representatives affected by bluetongue on 8 September, Baroness Hayman heard first-hand the challenges faced by the sector, the importance of partnership working, and the need to strengthen long-term preparedness and resilience across the sector.