Government warned over biosecurity

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The Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee said there was a risk of another "devastating" leak like last year's foot-and-mouth escape from the animal health facility in Pirbright, Surrey, unless biosecurity was taken more seriously.

The committee singled out the "ageing" Health Protection Agency (HPA) laboratories at Porton Down in Wiltshire where it described the conditions as "not acceptable".

It called for the appointment of a single Government minister to take responsibility for the co-ordination of biosecurity measures and the provision of "high containment" laboratories.

In all, there are ten sites in the UK working with the most dangerous pathogens, classified as CL4, with a further 600 operating at the next level down with CL3 pathogens.

The committee said that while some facilities were world-class, others had been neglected and were in need of significant investment.

"The costs to human or animal health and to the economy of a breach of biosecurity at a high containment laboratory are devastating, as seen at Pirbright in 2007," it said.

"All funders of high containment laboratories must ensure that long-term funding for running costs is provided, sustained and protected to ensure risk management can take place effectively. The Government has a particular responsibility in this regard."

It said that decisions were needed urgently on the funding of the redevelopment of the Pirbright site while the Department of Health should consider the redevelopment of the HPA facility at Porton Down as a matter of priority.

The committee said that ministers needed to take a firmer grip on biosecurity with a single minister appointed to take overall responsibility for the issue across government. It also called for improved vetting of staff working at high containment laboratories.