Written question asked by Lord Roborough (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 March 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 March 2025. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 March 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Veterinary Services: Staff

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government how many qualified and practising vets who are available to support the enforcement of biosecurity regulations there are in the UK.

Answer: Vets are involved in biosecurity in multiple settings, including in a lab, at the borders, in abattoirs and on farms. The latest figures provided by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons show the total number of vets registered as UK Practising is 31,221. Within this figure, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has a total of approximately 450 veterinary roles, and the Food Standards Agency employ 80 vets directly. The Government employs around 1,000 veterinary surgeons in total, of which 270 are official veterinarians.

Secondary information