To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years the number of veterinary surgeons permanently employed by his Department; and what is his estimate of the number of veterinary surgeons who will be required over each of the next four years.
The number of veterinary surgeons permanently employed in the state veterinary service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for each of the last 10 years is as follows:
Year
| Number
|
| 1980 | 580·5 |
| 1981 | 563·5 |
| 1982 | 557·0 |
| 1983 | 549·0 |
| 1984 | 539·5 |
| 1985 | 527·5 |
| 1986 | 506·5 |
| 1987 | 464·5 |
| 1988 | 444·5 |
| 1989 | 422·0 |
We foresee a need for an increase in the number of veterinary surgeons in the state veterinary service over the next four years, particularly for food safety work including meat hygiene.
In April this year, Dr. Ewan Page was appointed to chair a committee to provide advice on this. Its report is awaited.