§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether she has performed an impact assessment to determine what percentage of veterinary surgeons would be adversely affected by the recommendations contained within the Competition Commission report into prescription only veterinary medicines; [146093]
446W(2) what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the implementation of the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report on prescription only veterinary medicines on levels of veterinary care for pets of low income owners; [146100]
(3) what discussions she has had with veterinary organisations regarding the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report on prescription only veterinary medicines; and what assessment she has made of their representations; [146101]
(4) how many complaints were received by the Office of Fair Trading about the price of prescription only veterinary medicines in each of the last five years for which records are available; and what proportion of those complaints were made about (a) large animals practices and (b) small animal practices; [146102]
(5) what the average profit per veterinary practice was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [146095]
(6) what the average profit per veterinary practice was on the sale of prescription-only medicines in (a) large animal practices and (b) small animal practices in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [146096]
(7) when she expects to publish a Statutory Instrument to implement the recommendations of the Competition Commissions Report into prescription only veterinary medicines; [146097]
(8) what estimate she has made of the impact on the average cost of a veterinary consultation of implementation of the recommendations made by the Competition Commission in its report on prescription only veterinary medicines; [146098]
(9) what discussions she has had with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons regarding changes to its Guide to Professional Conduct, with reference to the Competition Commission's recommendations on prescription only medicines. [146106]
§ Mr. SutcliffeIn recent months, I and members of my Department, have had several meetings with representatives of the RCVS, the BVA and other professional bodies. We have listened carefully to the views of the profession particularly in relation to animal health and welfare. These discussions have been helpful and productive and identified opportunities to reduce the potential need for legislation by addressing many of Competition Commission recommendations within the industry's own professional code of practice.
A consultation document together with a draft impact assessment and the draft legislation we consider is necessary to implement these recommendations is currently being finalised in discussion with DEFRA. This will be issued shortly and will provide all interested parties with a further opportunity to comment on how best to carry forward the Commission's recommendations. Reflecting the Government's better regulation agenda, the DTI would look closely at proposals from the profession to take forward some or all of them within the industry's own professional rules.