HL Deb 31 March 2004 vol 659 c173WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there has been a review, following the foot and mouth disease outbreak, of pay rates offered in crisis conditions to qualified personnel whose services may be required urgently; and whether there is any formulaic relationship between daily pay rates offered to non-governmental experts and hourly rates charged under governmental fee structures. [HL2061]

Lord Whitty

The principal category of qualified personnel who were required with urgency during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease was vets. It was necessary to offer a higher than normal fee to temporary veterinary inspectors at the peak of the outbreak, in order to attract sufficient vets. There is, however, no formulaic link between any such fee increase and either the salaries paid to the SVS' own staff, fees paid to local veterinary inspectors, or any fees which may be charged to third parties.