Call for Evidence

The Committee is seeking to examine how the Government is applying lessons learned from the covid-19 pandemic, and which of these could be applied to prevent the emergence and spread of new emerging diseases with pandemic potential. The Committee is also seeking to examine the UK’s biosecurity framework and involvement in international biosecurity initiatives.

The Committee is therefore seeking written submissions by 23:59 on Friday 31 March 2023 addressing any or all of the following topics:

• How the Government is applying lessons from the covid-19 pandemic, in areas such as:

o Pandemic preparedness;

o Testing capacity and approach;

o Vaccine development and treatments;

o Scientific advice in Government; and

o 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 globalimplications 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 anassessment 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.