The Government acknowledges the Committee’s comments and agrees that understanding inspection rate performance across Border Control Posts (BCPs) is an important part of effective border oversight. We intend to do further work to improve our use of existing data and consider how it can be articulated publicly to improve public confidence in the regime. Border checks are one component of the SPS system, providing assurance that the underlying system of controls are working as intended. The system also includes risk assessments, import conditions and health certificates signed by vets in the exporting country. The Government agrees that checks are important but also emphasises that they are not the primary mechanism for managing biosecurity risks. The implementation of the BTOM was subject to a Government Major Projects Evaluation Review. In addition to this, Defra conducted an internal review of BTOM implementation prior to the announcement of the pause of further implementation of controls on EU live animals and certain goods imported from the island of Ireland earlier this year and our confidence in commercial controls is high. The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) independent assessment is that GB import controls introduced since the start of 2024 have “improved our ability to manage biosecurity risks from the EU”. We will continue to work in partnership across relevant government departments and external public bodies, as well as engaging with businesses and traders, to assess where efficiencies can be made in current border processes during negotiations with the EU. Whilst there is continual oversight to assess where further improvements and efficiencies can be made to current processes, it is not considered proportionate to conduct a further large-scale evaluation of the aspects of the BTOM that were delivered prior to the announcement of the UK-EU SPS Agreement. While target inspection rates are consistent at a national level, the Government recognises that there is variance in the numbers of inspections carried out at individual BCPs. BCPs across the UK are approved for different SPS goods. The primary method of transportation and the destination from which goods have been exported also differ across BCPs due to their geography. As such, the number of inspections across BCPs is not uniform, but is proportionate to the risk associated with the type and origin of the imported goods. Defra continues to engage with Port Health Authorities and plant health delivery services to deepen understanding of variances in inspection levels and to ensure that the risk-based approach remains robust and responsive to emerging threats. The Government has concerns that the publication of port inspection rates could have unintended consequences. Disclosing inspection rates by port may give importers the impression that certain routes are subject to fewer checks due to a gap in oversight. This could encourage importers to alter their routes to reduce the likelihood of checks, which may result in trade diversion and increased congestion and pressure at ports with the lowest number of checks, even where these lower numbers may be for good reason and in line with the overall regime. Defra publishes a Multi-Annual National Control Plan (and associated annual report) describing UK official controls. This includes data relating to non-compliant consignments of certain SPS goods based on enforcement action taken at the border and inland. The information is collected through the IPAFFS system by APHA. We aim to publish the 2024 report by the end of this year. Defra is also committed to improving understanding of the rate of checks performed across different BCPs and has committed additional resource to improving management information as a result of the recommendations within this report. Consideration is being given as to whether there are methods of publishing inspection rate data without supporting avoidance tactics, such as aggregate anonymised percentages, but we cannot commit to a specific approach or timescale in this response. The Government therefore partially accepts this recommendation in that understanding the rate of checks performed and the reasoning behind the variance is a key consideration of managing an effective border. Defra commits to continue collecting inspection data at each port and undertaking relevant analysis to support ongoing operational oversight.