§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the survey carried out by the British Cattle Veterinary Association published in May 2003, which showed that 48 per cent of farms listed as being overdue a tuberculosis test should not have been on the list, whether these apparent overdue errors were due to inefficiencies within the offices of divisional managers; and, if so, what action they have taken to improve the accuracy of data on their tuberculosis database. [HL5461]
§ Lord WhittyWe are aware of the BCVA survey. The nature of TB testing is such that most TB tests are completed on or shortly after their due date. Delays in the submission of test results from local veterinary practices, or delays in the input of those test results on to the database when they have been received at animal health offices, could result in some tests appearing as outstanding when the tests have been carried out.
Early in 2002, pressure of work following the foot and mouth disease outbreak may have led to delays in the input of test results on to the database, but this position is now much improved
Herds with tests overdue by more than three months are now put under movement restrictions. Because of this, careful checks are made to ensure that all tests that have been done (and results received) are entered on to the database. This initiative, alongside the efforts of local veterinary practices, has reduced the number of overdue TB tests to below the number overdue prior to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.