HL Deb 16 July 2002 vol 637 cc136-7WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs office at Worcester has resumed normal working; and what is the current backlog of bovine tuberculosis tests waiting to be assessed. [HL5151]

Lord Whitty

The Rural Development Service and the State Veterinary Service are now all established at Worcester. In addition, some post-foot and mouth disease work continues on site, utilising additional staff to those required for routine operations.

At the end of May 2002, there was a GB backlog of 20,030 overdue bovine tuberculosis tests (down from 27,000 at the end of 2001). The figure for Hereford and Worcester Animal Health Office was 408.