HC Deb 05 March 1997 vol 291 cc685-6W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary surgeons were employed by his Department and on projects funded by his Department on(a) the most recent date available, and (b) 31 March of each year since 1979. [18023]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The numbers of veterinary surgeons employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at 1 April each year since 1979 are as follows:

Year Number of veterinary surgeons
VFS and VIS CVL CSG VMD MHS Total
1979 491 102.5 — — — 593
1980 483 99 — — — 582
1981 471 97 — — — 568
1982 459 95.5 — — — 554.5
1983 467 72.5 — — — 539.5
1984 460 85.5 — — — 545.5
1985 444 83.5 — — — 527.5
1986 422 75.5 — — — 497.5
1987 381 67.5 — — — 448.5
1988 381.5 71.5 1 — — 454
1989 376.5 63.5 1 11 — 452
1990 391 1n/a 1 11 — 403
1991 408 1n/a 1 12 — 421
1992 425.6 1n/a 1 12 — 438.6
1993 422.3 1n/a — 10 — 433.3
1994 408.8 1n/a 1 12 — 421.8
1995 395.5 220 2 12 42 471.5
1 Figures are not available for CVL for these years.
2 Does not include veterinary surgeons in the senior civil service in CVL.

  • Abbreviations:
    • VFS: Veterinary Field Service.
    • CVL: Central Veterinary Laboratory.
    • VIS: Veterinary Investigation Service.
    • CSG: Chief Scientist's Group.
    • VMD: Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
    • MHS: Meat Hygiene Service.

On 1 October 1995, The Veterinary Investigation Service joined the Central Veterinary Laboratory to form the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

Year VFS CVL and VIS CSG VMD MHS Total
1996 294.6 160 2 15 42 413.6
Current 297.5 287 4 14 45 445.5
1 Figures are not available for CVL for these years.
2 Does not include veterinary surgeons in the senior civil service in CVL.

  • Abbreviations:
    • VFS: Veterinary Field Service.
    • CVL: Central Veterinary Laboratory.
    • VIS: Veterinary Investigation Service.
    • CSG: Chief Scientist's Group.
    • VMD: Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
    • MHS: Meat Hygiene Service.

The figures for the number of veterinary surgeons engaged in projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are not held centrally. They could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.