§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the three counties of Yorkshire, the number and grade of veterinary officers employed by his Department at the end of 1988 and give comparable figures for 1983 and 1978; what recruitment of staff he is undertaking within these three counties at the present time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonBecause my Department's regional organisation has undergone changes in the period covered by the question and because the geographical areas of responsibility of veterinary staff are not contiguous with the boundaries of the three shire counties of Yorkshire, the precise figures requested by the hon. Member are not available. However, the number and grade of my Department's permanent veterinary staff with responsibilities covering all or part of Yorkshire for the end of years 1988, 1983 and 1978 were:
1988 1983 1978 Regional Veterinary Officer 1 1 1 Deputy Regional Veterinary Officer 1 1 1 Superintending Veterinary Investigation Officer 1 1 1 Divisional Veterinary Officer 4 4 4 Senior Veterinary Investigation Officer 11 2 2 Veterinary Investigation Officer(VIO) 13 6 6 Veterinary Officer (VO) 11 14 16 Total 22 29 31 1 Leeds Veterinary Investigation Centre closed in 1986. A national recruitment exercise for VOs and VIOs is planned for early May, which will take account of one veterinary officer vacancy at Leeds and additional posts granted for salmonella controls.