Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a new regulatory framework for veterinary practices.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, which regulates the veterinary sector, runs a voluntary Practice Standards Scheme to encourage veterinary practices to meet the highest standards of veterinary care. Defra is aware of the potential benefits that legislative change could bring for the regulation of veterinary practices and is working with stakeholders to consider what this framework could look like.