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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle the overuse of antibiotics in farms; and if she will make a statement.

The Government published its annual progress report and implementation plan for the UK five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy in December 2014. This includes the further measures on animal health to be taken over the next four years to respond to the risk of antibiotic resistance and to promote the responsible use of antibiotics.

The Government continues to work with a number of industry bodies to encourage the development of prescribing guidelines to optimise prescribing practices and foster good stewardship of antibiotics.