HC Deb 06 January 2004 vol 416 cc273-4W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) large animal and (b) small animal veterinary surgeons practise in the UK. [146094]

Mr. Bradshaw

There is no such thing as a large or small animal vet as all veterinary surgeons are qualified to deal with any type of animal. At the last count (March 2003) there were approximately 12,000 veterinary surgeons in full time practice in the UK.

In April 2003 The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), submitted evidence to the EFRA Select Committee inquiry into Vets arid Veterinary services which showed that there are 2,375 main veterinary practices in the UK, of which 964 (41 per cent.) were farm practices.

In the 2002 Manpower survey of how veterinary time was devoted to different areas of practice, it was reported that vets in general practice devoted 80.1 per cent. of their time to small animals, 5 per cent. to horses, 6.7 per cent. to cattle, 1.3 per cent. to sheep, 0.3 to pigs and 0.1 to poultry.