HL Deb 23 April 2001 vol 625 cc12-3WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has written to all United Kingdom's veterinary businesses (both large and small animal practices) to ask for their assistance in the fight against foot and mouth disease; and, if so, on what dates they were approached. [HL1534]

Baroness Hayman

The Ministry wrote to all regional Animal Health Offices on 23rd February 2001, with the request that they contact all veterinary practices in each division to see if they had any staff to assist with the foot and mouth outbreak. In addition, advertisements for temporary veterinary surgeons have been placed on the MAFF websitehttp://www.maff.gov.uk/ and in the journal The Veterinary Record. Requests for assistance have also been made through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Veterinary Association.