§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider the facilities for the diagnosis of brucellosis adequate and what steps are being taken to train technicians in the Rose Bengal Test in view of the intention to designate accredited areas early next year.]
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, additional laboratory staff and resources have already been allocated to meet the high initial response to the new brucellosis Incentives Scheme. It is too early to say whether this response is representative, but further staff and equipment will be allocated, if necessary. A laboratory technician can be trained to undertake the Rose Bengal Plate Test in a matter of days, but I assume that the noble Baroness is referring to the new arrangements under which trained lay assistants will be able to undertake the field work of obtaining blood samples for this test. Training courses for these lay personnel start next month, with priority to those in the regions from which the final choice of eradication areas is likely to be made.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I am most pleased with the noble Lord's welcome statement. Without appearing to be critical, may I ask him to bear in mind during the training period that as it takes only four minutes to do the test in the laboratory, the delay at the moment, of, I think, nine days, is a little difficult to understand? Perhaps the noble Lord would undertake to improve the productivity of the technicians whom he is now using.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, we are now slightly encroaching on the next Question on the Order Paper. The interest of the noble Baroness in this matter is well known, and I am confident that everything she says on the matter will be studied most carefully.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLI thank the noble Lord.