Robbie Moore questioned the testing capacity, the reduction in DEFRA's expenditure on bluetongue testing, and the delays in vaccine supplies. He also raised concerns about financial assistance for fallen stock disposal and the potential risk of hiding foot and mouth disease cases in the backlog.

Terry Jermy thanked the Minister for his engagement with the farming community and asked about the government's work to improve resilience in the farming community.

Sarah Dyke raised concerns about the financial pressure on farmers due to the bluetongue outbreak and questioned the steps being taken to accelerate vaccination roll-out and provide financial assistance.

Ben Goldsborough asked about specific actions being taken to increase APHA capacity and improve disease mapping.

Carmichael raised concerns about the predictability of the outbreak and the lack of proper awareness campaign earlier in the midge season. He also questioned the availability of reliable information for vets and farmers.

Newbury inquired about the increased uptake of vaccination and expressed interest in meeting livestock farmers in his constituency to discuss the challenges they face.

Lamont questioned the discussions between the Minister and the Scottish Government to ensure proper coordination of vaccination, testing, and movement rules across Great Britain.

Moon inquired about the timely delivery of test results to farmers in Cornwall, with 117 cases confirmed and 2,500 under investigation.

Cooper highlighted the difficulties with cross-border movement and the initial slow reaction of the Animal and Plant Health Agency in Scotland.

Fenton-Glynn asked about steps being taken to support farmers managing the costs of bluetongue, including vet bills, vaccinations, and fallen stock disposal.

Chambers suggested technical improvements for testing and questioned the classification of bluetongue under the specified animal pathogens order, and the need to ensure that vaccines from abroad can be used without discarding previous stock.

Minns urged the Government to work at pace with the Scottish Government to ensure frictionless trade across the Scottish border.

Fox criticised the Government and his Department for cuts in testing money and delays in vaccine supply reaching farmers and vets.

Andrew Pakes inquired about the access to vaccines and testing speed, and raised concerns about DEFRA's preparedness for biosecurity threats due to budget cuts over the years. He urged the Minister to address the challenges brought by climate change and ensure DEFRA is ready to support farmers in future years.

Helen Morgan inquired about the support being put in place for livestock farmers facing a difficult year due to drought, low milk prices, and the bluetongue outbreak. She asked for steps to prevent similar situations in the future.

Johanna Baxter welcomed the Minister and inquired about discussions with the Scottish Government to ensure vaccines are available for farmers and livestock keepers in Scotland. She also asked about the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

David Reed highlighted the financial and other pressures faced by livestock farmers in Devon, including unexpected costs due to drought and changes in agricultural property relief. He asked if the financial impact of bluetongue can be considered in isolation.

Seamus Logan commended the Minister for his interest in Scottish farmers and his engagement with the Scottish Government. He asked for additional financial support and consideration of Barnett consequentials for Scotland.

Rebecca Smith invited the Minister to visit Dartmoor, where there is a high number of bluetongue cases, to better understand the issues facing farmers there.

Edward Morello raised concerns about the outdated Government map of bluetongue, which does not show suspected cases or areas where testing is being undertaken. He asked for the map to be updated and made more informative.

David Mundell inquired about addressing cross-border issues, including vaccination, testing, and animal movement across borders, raised by NFU Scotland.

Ben Maguire inquired about financial assistance for farmers facing extraordinary disposal costs due to bluetongue. He asked for urgent financial assistance, supported by the NFU.

I thank the Minister for his positive answers, which I think we should be encouraged by. Although Northern Ireland thankfully has no reported cases of bluetongue, the Ulster Farmers’ Union—I declare an interest as a member—has issued an urgent warning that vaccine supplies are under severe pressure in GB, with some major manufacturers completely out of stock. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland has rightly moved to a general licence to allow our farmers to vaccinate, but they cannot protect their herds if they cannot access the physical vaccine vials. Will the Minister assure this House that the Government are working directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers to guarantee security of supply, and will he commit to working closely with the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that our family farms are not left at the back of the queue for those vital BTV-3 vaccine supplies, as the midges’ active season continues and gets even worse.