asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures for wastage and recruitment in the State veterinary service in each of the five years preceding the latest date for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of professional officers recruited to and lost from the veterinary field and investigation staff and the Central Veterinary Laboratories in each of the five years 1969 to 1973 are:

	Recruitment	Wastage
1969	33	29
1970	30	15
1971	27	29
1972	19	31
1973	16	26
	125	130

As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20th December to my hon. Friends the Members for Merton and Morden (Miss Fookes) and Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison).—[Vol. 866, c. 1591.]