§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many local veterinary inspectors in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region in England and Wales are also appointed official veterinary surgeons.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)It is not possible without disproportionate cost to provide these figures.
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many local veterinary inspectors are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of their regions in England and Wales and of those how many in each region are employed on tuberculin testing and brucellosis blood sampling.
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§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe numbers of local veterinary inspectors engaged by my department in the regions within England and Wales are:
England Eastern Region 669 Midlands and Western Region 1,030 Northern Region 583 South Eastern Region 949 South Western Region 797 Wales 342 Information is not available on how many local veterinary inspectors are engaged in tuberculin testing and brucellosis blood sampling but the numbers of veterinary practices engaged in these activities in August 1987 were:
England Tuberculosis Brucellosis Eastern Region 155 156 Midlands and Western Region 225 226 Northern Region 171 172 South Eastern Region 168 166 South Western Region 190 191 Wales 75 75
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many cattle were tuberculin testing and brucellosis blood sampling carried out by local veterinary inspectors in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region in England and Wales in each year since 1980.
What percentage of herd testing has been carried out in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region in England and Wales by Local Veterinary Inspectors in each year since 1980.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe information cannot be provided on a regional basis or for the run of years requested without disproportionate cost. The following information is, however, available in respect of 1986. 1,469,115 cattle were tested in England for tuberculosis by Local Veterinary Inspectors—representing 90.5 per cent. of tests carried out—and 54,129 blood sampling visits for brucellosis were conducted by Local Veterinary Inspectors—representing 80 per cent. of the total.
In Wales 226,184 cattle were tested for tuberculosis by Local Veterinary Inspectors—representing 94 per cent. of the total tests carried out—and 15,193 blood sampling visits for brucellosis were conducted by local veterinary inspectors—representing 88 per cent. of the total.
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) when local veterinary inspectors last received an increase in fees;
- (b) whether there have been any negotiations for such an increase since the last one;
- (c) whether the Government are satisfied that the present fees are adequate to preserve the present system of Local Veterinary Inspectors.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonFees paid to local veterinary inspectors were last increased in June 1985. Negotiations for an increase have been in progress since the British Veterinary Association lodged a claim in June 1986. So far it has not been 1025WA possible to reach agreement because of the veterinary profession's inability to substantiate their claim on a basis which is satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government. Negotiations are continuing and it is hoped that a settlement can soon be reached.
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total amount of fees paid to local veterinary inspectors employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of their regions in England and Wales on tuberculin testing and brucellosis blood sampling.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe information cannot be provided on a regional basis without disproportionate cost. The total fees paid to local veterinary inspectors for tuberculin testing and brucellosis blood sampling in England and Wales during 1986–7 were:
England Tuberculosis — £1,977,214 Brucellosis — £2,618,841 Wales Tuberculosis — £326,287 Brucellosis — £657,772