§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he is satisfied that there are sufficient qualified veterinary surgeons in the 199W United Kingdom to deal with the increased responsibilities and work-load that will be placed upon the veterinary profession by the implementation of the major recommendations of the Joint Committee on the use of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if, in view of the proposals of the Joint Committee on the use of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, he is satisfied that there are enough veterinarians specialised in pigs and in poultry to undertake these new responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIt is too early to make a detailed assessment of the demands which the implementations of the Swann Report recommendations may make upon the veterinary profession. I believe, however, that it will be able to meet them.
§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that one of the main sources of infection transferred from animal to man is the abattoir, he will seek to utilise skilled veterinary manpower in meat and abattoir inspection and not require them to deal, without laboratory facilities, with the other hazards to man referred to by the Joint Committee on the use of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.
§ Mr. MackieStaff of local authorities responsible for meat and abattoir inspection are trained for the purpose but can obtain advice from the State veterinary service if necessary. Laboratory facilities are available when needed.
§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, under the proposed regulations to stop the administration to farm animals of penicillin, the tetracyclines and certain other antibiotics except on prescription, the veterinarian will be allowed to supply the prescribed antibiotic feed supplement to the compounder, or whether the compounder will be permitted to obtain the antibiotic feed supplement from the manufacturer, in accordance with present practice, taking responsibility for incorporating the supplement in the feed.
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§ Mr. MackieThe arrangements required to enable compounders to incorporate into a feedingstuff an antibiotic which has been prescribed for therapeutic purposes, are still under consideration.
§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the Swann Committee's Report, he will seek powers to ensure that the distribution arrangements for antibiotic feed supplements are such that the commercial interests of veterinarians do not conflict with their professional judgment.
§ Mr. MackieNo. I am sure that veterinarians will continue to observe the ethical standards of their profession.
§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received a formal communication from the Agricultural Research Council following the publication of the Report of the Joint Committee on the use of Antibiotics in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; and if he will refer the Swann Report to the Council for its recommendations.
§ Mr. MackieThe Agricultural Research Council is associated with the Agricultural and other departments in the consideration of the Swann Report.