To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the consideration by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of complaints relating to veterinary services; and if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to provide for the regulation by his Department of complaints procedures in relation to veterinary services. (317006)

The President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has written to request that DEFRA put forward a legislative reform order (using powers in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006) to change the constitution of the Disciplinary Committee and Preliminary Investigation Committee. The President of the British Veterinary Association has written in support of the RCVS proposal.

I am due to meet the Action Group Against the Professional Conduct Department of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 2 March to discuss their concerns about the current system for investigating complaints against veterinary surgeons.