§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the availability of Welsh Office veterinary services in mid Wales. [39808]
§ Mr. HagueThe Government's veterinary field service provides veterinary services throughout Great Britain. VFS officers are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but on a wide range of subjects, state veterinary service officers working in Wales do so on my behalf, in view of my responsibilities for matters such as farm animal health, welfare and meat hygiene.
A review of the VFS earlier this year recommended an improved and streamlined management structure, and the Government announced on 4 May a number of changes to the VFS. In future there will be fewer, larger VFS divisions, altering from four to three in Wales. The future VFS divisional offices in Wales will be located at Cardiff, Carmarthen and Caernarfon. The present VFS divisional office at Llandrindod Wells will remain as an area office, as will the current area office at Ruthin. The number of front-line veterinary and technical staff will stay the same.