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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken in response to the findings of its investigation into the cases of bluetongue virus in cattle in Kent.

Upon detection of bluetongue disease in Kent in November during our routine surveillance, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) officials took immediate and robust action. Animals on the affected premises in Kent, and subsequently Norfolk, have been humanely culled and Temporary Control Zones have been put in place to prevent potential spread of disease by restricting movements, except under licence, of ruminant and camelid animals. Surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments within these zones continue and we will review the need for the Zones when this is complete. We continue to work closely with industry representatives to ensure that keepers are kept up to date with developments and that issues and concerns are addressed promptly.