Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 2010. It was answered by James Paice (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 November 2010 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set for the merger of Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Secretary of State announced on 29 June that Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency were going to be merged. We are aiming to formally merge these bodies on 1 April 2011. The merger will bring together services, expertise and scientific capability on animal health. In resource constrained times it will improve our resilience in delivering important services, including our animal disease emergency response capability and science requirements for animal health.

Secondary information