Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2022 to Question 22466, what her planned timescale is for identifying how best the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 could be updated.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
There are many potential benefits associated with updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and, including the possibility of allowing allied professionals to work as part of a vet led team, providing a modern regulatory framework for the profession and enabling greater participation in the profession. We are currently considering the proposals. Further, creating new or amending existing veterinary legislation will be a significant undertaking and subject to Parliamentary time. As such, Defra is unable to provide an indicative timescale at present.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2022 to Question 22466, what potential benefits her Department has identified from an updating of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
There are many potential benefits associated with updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and, including the possibility of allowing allied professionals to work as part of a vet led team, providing a modern regulatory framework for the profession and enabling greater participation in the profession. We are currently considering the proposals. Further, creating new or amending existing veterinary legislation will be a significant undertaking and subject to Parliamentary time. As such, Defra is unable to provide an indicative timescale at present.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, entitled Recommendations for future veterinary legislation, published on 13 October 2021.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Defra is grateful to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for their proposal to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Defra officials are reviewing the proposals. I recognise the potential benefits associated with changes to the Act and my officials have been engaging with the RCVS and the sector more widely on how the Act could best be updated.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2021 to Question 51897, whether the Government has agreed terms of reference for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons review of the disciplinary framework and fitness to practice regime.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently carried out a root-and-branch review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (last reviewed in 2008) and the role of the RCVS as the veterinary regulator, with the aim of ensuring public protection, animal health and welfare and regulatory best practice. The terms of reference were not set by or agreed with the Government. The review aimed to design a modern, fit for purpose framework comparable to other professional regulators, including a modern fitness to practice regime. The RCVS provided its recommendations to Defra Ministers in September 2021. Defra Ministers are considering these recommendations and welcome the content and consideration provided by the RCVS.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government last reviewed the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently carried out a root-and-branch review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (last reviewed in 2008) and the role of the RCVS as the veterinary regulator, with the aim of ensuring public protection, animal health and welfare and regulatory best practice. The terms of reference were not set by or agreed with the Government. The review aimed to design a modern, fit for purpose framework comparable to other professional regulators, including a modern fitness to practice regime. The RCVS provided its recommendations to Defra Ministers in September 2021. Defra Ministers are considering these recommendations and welcome the content and consideration provided by the RCVS.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is undertaking a review of the disciplinary framework and fitness to practice regime.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently carried out a root-and-branch review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (last reviewed in 2008) and the role of the RCVS as the veterinary regulator, with the aim of ensuring public protection, animal health and welfare and regulatory best practice. The terms of reference were not set by or agreed with the Government. The review aimed to design a modern, fit for purpose framework comparable to other professional regulators, including a modern fitness to practice regime. The RCVS provided its recommendations to Defra Ministers in September 2021. Defra Ministers are considering these recommendations and welcome the content and consideration provided by the RCVS.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2021 to Question 51897, what the timescale is for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to provide recommendations on the overhaul of the disciplinary framework and fitness to practice regime.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently carried out a root-and-branch review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (last reviewed in 2008) and the role of the RCVS as the veterinary regulator, with the aim of ensuring public protection, animal health and welfare and regulatory best practice. The terms of reference were not set by or agreed with the Government. The review aimed to design a modern, fit for purpose framework comparable to other professional regulators, including a modern fitness to practice regime. The RCVS provided its recommendations to Defra Ministers in September 2021. Defra Ministers are considering these recommendations and welcome the content and consideration provided by the RCVS.