Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 July 2002. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 July 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many veterinary surgeons in each regional office of her Department work on the herd testing programme for Bovine TB. - (Holding answer 1 July 2002).

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinary surgeons in each regional office of her Department work on the herd testing programme for Bovine TB. [65470] Margaret Beckett: [holding answer 1 July 2002]: The State Veterinary Service (SVS) comprises five regions and 23 divisions. Veterinary Officers of the SVS are supported by approximately 100 Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs). During the six-month period December 2001 to May 2002 these veterinary surgeons spent approximately 15 per cent. of their time on TB- associated duties. In addition over 4,000 Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs) are eligible to carry out TB testing. Provision of the number of veterinary surgeons who work on the bovine TB herd-testing programme, broken down by region, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 388 c841W;388 c845W; 65470
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Disease control Staff Testing Veterinary services Bovine tuberculosis State Veterinary Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk