§ 40. Mr. W. NICHOLSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether there are now employed by the Board sixteen veterinary surgeons of military age or between the years of twenty-nine and forty-one, or how many of those employed are between those ages; and whether he can explain why these men are kept at the Board of Agriculture instead of being allowed to serve with the Army?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir R. Winfrey)The figures given in the question are correct. The veterinary staff 874 of the Board is of comparatively recent origin and, therefore, consists chiefly of young men. Since the outbreak of war 30 per cent. of the entire veterinary staff has been released for military service, and the duties which fall upon the remainder have increased rather than diminished under war conditions. The Board must retain a sufficient staff of these technical officers in order to deal with any serious outbreak of animal disease that may occur, and on this account it is not considered advisable to reduce the numbers below the present level.
Owing to the shortage of veterinary surgeons in ordinary practice the provision of substitutes for the Board's professional staff is exceedingly difficult. Discussion is, however, proceeding with the War Office with a view to the exchange of some of the younger members of the Board's veterinary staff for officers of the Army Veterinary Service who have been on active service for some time.