HC Deb 08 June 1989 vol 154 c225W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is proposing to take to consider the supply and demand for veterinary surgeons, particularly in the light of the Riley report.

Mr. MacGregor

[pursuant to his reply, 11 April]: On behalf of United Kingdom Agriculture Ministers and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science I have appointed Dr. E. S. Page, MA, BSc as chairman of a committee to review veterinary manpower needs and demand for veterinary education. Professor K. J. Thomson, MSc Lond., MS Iowa, MA (Agric. Econ) and Mr. B. D. Hoskin, BVM & S, MRCVS, have been appointed as members of this committee.

The terms of reference of the committee are:

To assess:

  1. (a) the need for veterinary manpower in the UK, both for the public service and the private sector; and
  2. (b) the demand for veterinary education from home and overseas students;

and, in the light of this, to consider and make recommendations on:

  1. (c) how any increased manpower requirement might he met having regard to constraints on public funding and to the potential funding from the UFC and other sources;
  2. (d) what future arrangements should be developed to assess the demand for veterinary manpower and determine the number of student places.

The Universities Funding Council has decided to postpone consideration of the Riley report until the review is complete.