The Commons Science and Technology Committee today announces a
new inquiry into the
Government’s preparedness for emerging diseases with pandemic
potential, following the largest ever outbreak of avian flu in UK
wild and domestic birds.
The Committee will examine whether the Government is applying the
lessons from its handling of covid-19, including on vaccine
development, testing capacity, scientific advice in Government
and the economic impact of pandemics. The inquiry follows-up the
Committee’s October 2021 lessons learned Report, published
jointly with the Health and Social Care Committee, and the
Committee’s January 2021 report into the use of scientific advice
in Government during covid-19.
Among the topics MPs will consider is the threat posed by
zoonotic diseases—diseases that can spread between animals and
humans— which include covid-19, avian flu, and Ebola—and how best
to prevent and control them.
The inquiry will examine how the UK can enhance its response to
disease outbreaks with pandemic potential, with a focus on the
UK’s biosecurity framework and the co-ordination between the
Government and the UK Health Security Agency.
Rt Hon MP, Chair of Science and
Technology Committee, said:
“When we published our investigation into the
Government’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic we said the
Government should learn from its mistakes and its
successes.
“At our follow-up session last month, we heard concerning
testimony that the systems that made the UK vaccine effort such a
success are being dismantled.
“Covid-19 will not be our last pandemic. It is vital the
lessons are embedded to inform future decisions on disease
outbreaks with pandemic potential and protect lives and
livelihoods
“Our inquiry will scrutinise the Government’s actions and
policy on emerging diseases with pandemic potential, such as the
recent avian flu outbreak, and make recommendations on how the
UK’s response can be enhanced.”
Terms of reference
The Committee is inviting written submissions by 31
March 2023, addressing any or all the following points:
- How the Government is applying lessons from the covid-19
pandemic, in areas such as:
-
- Pandemic preparedness;
- Testing capacity and approach;
- Vaccine development and treatments;
- Scientific advice in Government; and
- Accounting for the economic impact of pandemics
- The causes of zoonotic disease emergence and ‘spillover
events’, the types of zoonotic disease most likely to emerge; and
the potential global implications of a future zoonotic disease
outbreak;
- The extent of UK preparedness for an emerging disease
outbreak with pandemic potential, and how this could be enhanced,
including an assessment of recent policy announcements such as
the refresh of the UK Biological Security Strategy;
- The extent of co-ordination between Government departments
and other bodies such as the UK Health Security Agency;
- Whether the threat from animal and other diseases receives
sufficient cross-government priority; and
- Additional policy initiatives and solutions needed in the UK
and internationally to reduce the risk of the future spread of
emerging diseases with pandemic potential.
ENDS
Further Information:
