Veterinary Education (Hansard, 6 April 1989)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the Riley Report was commissioned by the University Grants Committee. Decisions on the report will fall to the Universities Funding Council, which took over from the UGC on 1st April.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that reply, but I wish to ask whether he is aware that there is grave concern in the universities and the veterinary schools. Regarding costs I am sure we realise that 2 per cent. of the pay rises for teachers and doctors is equivalent to the entire amount of money spent on veterinary education and that the UFC itself spends more money on biologists who fail than on the veterinary surgeons who pass. That is not merely absurd; it is causing great chagrin and annoyance in the veterinary world among experienced vets and those who wish to encourage young people to take part in a great profession which can be so vital to our nation. I hope that the noble Viscount will take cognisance of these facts and help to rectify the problem.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I feel that that is slightly outside the scope of the original Question. However I shall certainly draw the noble Lord's comments to the attention of my right honourable friend.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, while the Government themselves are not due to respond to the Riley Report, will they not present their views to the UFC? Will not those views be against the disruption of centres of excellence and delays in important research at Glasgow and Cambridge?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I must emphasise that the purpose of the period of consultation was to allow all the relevant facts to be examined. I have no doubt whatever that the UFC will take into account all the views expressed, including those in your Lordships' House, before arriving at a decision.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that the quinquennial review into the educational needs of the veterinary profession would normally be due to start this year? Can he confirm that the review will in fact start this year? Would it not be sensible to await the results of that review before proceeding to take account of the recommendations of the Riley Committee?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, as I told your Lordships on 9th November last year in reply to a Question from the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, the Government will consider whether, and if so when, to mount a further assessment. I cannot tell the noble Lord exactly when that will be.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I put a specific question to the noble Viscount about the quinquennial review. The last review reported in 1985, as I recall. The chairman of that review was the noble friend of the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Stodart of Leaston. I believe that five years prior to that the noble Lord, Lord Swann, had presided over a quinquennial review. Such a review is therefore due now into the educational needs of this profession. Will the noble Viscount say whether a review is to be held?

§ Viscount Davidson
No, my Lords. I am not in a position to say that. However, I shall certainly write to the noble Lord when I have consulted my right honourable friend, and I shall place a copy of the letter in the Library.

§ Lady Saltoun of Abernethy
My Lords, has the noble Viscount read the front page of this morning's Glasgow Herald? Can he say whether the report on the Glasgow Veterinary School contained on the front page is true?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I have read the front page of the Glasgow Herald. I also read what my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland was reported to have said. I also saw the photograph of my right honourable friend with a cockatoo perched on his shoulder. The cockatoo was speaking into the ear of my right honourable friend. However, I am unable to divulge what the cockatoo was saying to my right honourable friend.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, we are getting a little tired of this passing of the buck to the UGC. Was there any prompting by the Government of the UGC to appoint the Riley Committee? That is a little suspicious, in my opinion.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I dare say it may be. But it was the UGC that appointed the Riley Committee. I am not aware of any prompting from the Government. However, the decisions on that committee will fall to the new UFC which was established under the Education Reform Act 1988. The Act limits Ministers' powers to intervene in matters relating to named institutions.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I am sure the noble Viscount knows there is a desperate shortage of veterinary surgeons throughout the country and that the manpower review is an urgent matter. It concerns not merely the veterinary profession itself, but also farming, research and science in the veterinary field. All those areas are vital to our country. Is the Minister prepared to advise his right honourable friend that the manpower review should take those matters into consideration, and that actions should not follow too tardily on the words?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am not in a position to advise my right honourable friend. However, I shall certainly tell him what the noble Lord has said.

§ Lord Campbell of Alloway
My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister appreciate that the noble Lady, Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, was not so much concerned with what the cockatoo said to the Minister but whether what the Minister said was true?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I note the point.