Originally from: Pat Gardiner
                        
http://www.fwi.co.uk/article.asp?con=12762&sec=18&hier=2&style

State Vet Service to leave Defra? Source: FWi 29 October 2003

By Jane Oliver

THE State Veterinary Service looks set to be separated out from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs so it becomes a separate government agency.

Ministers announced on Tuesday, 28 October, they had decided the move in principle so to give the best possible support to the new Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

The SVS will become a 'next steps' executive agency, subject to the results of a review of the scope of the new agency.

The review will look in particular as to whether the agency should take on some of the workload from other bodies within Defra, which help deliver the welfare strategy.

The government will spend the next two months looking into the practicalities of the changes and how they might improve efficiency of the SVS.

Animal health and welfare minister Ben Bradshaw said the welfare strategy offered the chance to restore the UK's reputation for working to the highest standards.

"The aim of this review is to ensure that the SVS continues to provide a first rate service to back up this strategy and that it is organised to deliver services in the most effective and efficient way possible," he said.

The SVS operates from 24 offices across England, Scotland and Wales.

As of April 2003, it had 276 permanent veterinary staff and 977 permanent administrative and technical staff.

In addition, over 6000 private sector vets supply their services to the SVS on a part-time basis.

Pat's Note: I will, of course, be applying for the post of Non-Executive Chairman of the new Agency and I expect your full support

Regards Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com