§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the 28 veterinary laboratories that were operational in 1979 and in 1991, and those that will be operational in 1995.
§ Mr. GummerThe changes in the structure of the veterinary investigation service since 1979 are the result of two very thorough and carefully considered reviews on the operation of the service. These reviews were designed to produce significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service and to reflect changes in national requirements and methods of operation of the veterinary investigation service. Advances in diagnostic technology, automated analytical equipment, information technology and improvements in road transport systems mean that a larger proportion of services provided by the veterinary investigation service can now be carried out more efficiently in the reduced number of locations. It is important to have an efficient veterinary investigation service which is well equipped to meet our national needs over the years ahead.
The 28 veterinary laboratories within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that were operational in 1979 consisted of 25 veterinary investigation centres located at Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Chester, Gloucester, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, Newcastle, Northampton, Norwich, Penrith, Reading, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington, Thirsk, Truro, Weybridge, Winchester, Worcester and Wye, and the three central laboratories comprising the central veterinary laboratories at Weybridge, Lasswade (Edinburgh) and the cattle breeding centre at Shinfield.
There are 21 veterinary laboratories operational in 1991 consisting of 19 veterinary investigation centres located at Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Carmarthen, Lincoln, Newcastle, Norwich, Penrith, Preston, Reading, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington, Thirsk, Truro, Winchester, Worcester and Wye and the two central laboratories comprising the central veterinary laboratories at Weybridge and Lasswade (Edinburgh).
It is expected that there will be 15 veterinary laboratories operational in 1995 consisting of 13 veterinary investigation centres located at Aberystwyth, Bristol, Carmarthen, Newcastle, Penrith, Preston, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington, Thirsk, Winchester and the two new veterinary investigation centres to be built, one at Bury St. Edmunds and the other in Warwickshire and the two central laboratories comprising the central veterinary laboratories at Weybridge and Lasswade (Edinburgh).
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