Under Secretary

"I hope that my right honourable friend will be able to deal with this rather serious matter promptly, and not make it a political issue. We have learned, not because the research station told us of their own accord, but because the media reported it, and they could not deny it that these dogs may have been infected, during their escape with bubonic plague. So, this is how we find out that scientists are studying bubonic plague at Lawson park. We do not know why they're doing this, but since the disease has not been a serious public health risk for many years, one must assume that the work is connected in some way with defense. Surely, such work, if necessary at all, should not be carried out in the middle of a national park. I come finally, to the matter of the distressing tragedy, which occurred two days ago. It would be pointless for me to try to allot blame for a thing of this kind. The point is, and I address this to my right honorable friend, the Secretary of State of Defense, What is going to be done? I am glad. I am glad my right honorable and gallant colleague is not attempting to ascribe any kind of blame to the Ministry of Defense. And indeed the member for Keswic is right, in demanding quick and decisive action. Accordingly, the Ministry has taken the following steps. Two companies or the third battalion of the parachute regiment are at this moment, on their way to the Lake District. Tomorrow they will begin an intensive search of the most likely areas, and they will continue until the dogs are found, and destroyed."

- The Under Secretary's speech.

The Under Secretary is the secondary antagonist of Richard Adams' 1977 novel The Plague Dogs, and a minor antagonist in its 1982 film adaptation. He works for the Secretary of State named William Harbottle and wants to destroy Rowf and Snitter, so that the conservation groups wouldn't oppose to Dr. Boycott.

He was voiced by the late Philip Locke, the late Brian Spink, the late Tony Church, the late Anthony Valentine, and the late William Lucas in the film.

History
He works for the Ministry of Defence and opposes to conservation efforts. He plans to build a prison at the Lake District and is associated with A.R.S.E.. When Tyson fails to shut Rowf's door properly, the dogs escape the lab and roam the countryside with the help of the Tod to help them survive in the wild. However, after their escape, it is believed that the dogs are carrying bubonic plague after the dogs accidentally break a tank containing Dr. Goodner's work on the disease.

While the dogs are killing livestock, the Under Secretary argues that the havoc won't stop even if the dogs are shot and orders his assistant to have the police capture them. The Dawson farmers capture Snitter and the police arrives, but Rowf and the Tod rescue him.

When a reporter named Digby Driver visits the lab, he blackmails Dr. Goodner to have a news article about the dogs carrying bubonic plague, which causes the public to go into a massive panic mode.

At the Longmire farm, the Tod eats a whole nest of chicken eggs and Rowf drives him away. Rowf and Snitter kill a chicken and are caught by the farmers, but the wife lets them go. The Under Secretary considers it awkward and argues that the dogs couldn't have contracted the plague.

After the dogs raid Geoffrey Westcott's car, Westcott sets out to kill the dogs, but accidentally falls to his death from a cliff and his corpse is scavenged by the dogs. The authorities find his corpse and the Under Secretary makes an announcement for the military to find the dogs and destroy them. When the dogs make it to the sea and try to escape the army, the Under Secretary calls Dr. Boycott and tells him to suspend his job.

Meanwhile, Digby Driver visits Alan Wood, Snitter's owner and they head out to rescue the dogs. When the two dogs are rescued by two naturalists named Peter Scott and Ronald Lockley, they are reunited with Alan Wood. The Under Secretary finds them and wants to shoot the dogs. Alan Wood tells him that he owns the dogs, but the Under Secretary still insists on shooting them. Major Awdry confronts him and tells him that it's illegal to use guns near a nature reserve and the Under Secretary leaves.

Trivia

 * In the book, the belief of Rowf and Snitter carrying bubonic plague was caused by Digby Driver, rather than revealed by Dr. Boycott.