National Animal Disease Information Service

HL Deb 08 October 2003 vol 653 cc56-7WA

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have agreed to the proposals submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by the National Animal Disease Information Service for expanding the network; and, if so, what is the forward plan. [HL4443]

Lord Whitty

The National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) is one of a number of organisations that submitted proposals seeking funding for projects as part of the veterinary training and research initiative. This initiative is sponsored jointly by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and Defra. An independent selection panel reviewed the proposals and adjudged NADIS's application unsuccessful. Applicants were notified in writing of the panel's decisions in June.

The Government have initiated a pilot study to explore whether NADIS could provide robust, representative clinical data to the Government for veterinary surveillance purposes. Conclusions drawn from the study are due to be reported to the Government in July 2004.