§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much was paid in fees to official veterinary surgeons in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region in England and Wales in each year since 1980.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe responsibility for the employment and payment of official veterinary surgeons rests with local authorities. My department reimburses reasonable costs for veterinary supervision in EC approved premises.
The scheme was started in June 1983 and the amounts paid in reimbursement in each calendar year since then are:
1983 : £706,261 1984 : £2,500,089 1985 : £2,828,101 1986 : £3,225,800 1987 : £3,389,506