§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's establishment of veterinary officers in the county of Northumberland; whether all posts in that establishment are filled; and whether he is satisfied that the number of such officers is sufficient to maintain the programme of work arising out of the brucellosis eradication scheme.
§ Mr. BuchanAt present one divisional veterinary officer and three veterinary officers are engaged on field work in Northumberland and one divisional veterinary officer and two veterinary officers are at the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Newcastle. There are three vacancies.
While progress continues to be made in the eradication of brucellosis in Northumberland there is a need to provide more veterinary staff to deal with both brucellosis eradication and the other demands made on them.