§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has given to the view recently expressed by the president of the British Veterinary Association that the department's approach to implementing the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is "at the very least complacent, and potentially downright dangerous"; and what action the department is taking. [HL4358]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)The Government have worked very closely with the BVA in developing the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. There are some areas where the BVA argues that Government should adopt a more interventionist approach, in particular, the licensing of livestock farms, the introduction of compulsory farm health plans and annual veterinary visits. The BVA has also called for greater level of government spending in this area, particularly in respect of veterinary surveillance.
The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is based on a strong partnership approach and does not propose an increased level of regulatory burden on the livestock farming sector. I do not accept the allegation from the past president of the BVA that the Government are complacent. In seeking to encourage a partnership approach, we are seeking to work with the wide range of interested parties to jointly own and implement the strategy, using it as a framework to guide the decision-making process.