News
MSP not satisfied by animal health surveillance answers
20/11/2009 08:50:00
REPLIES to parliamentary questions have failed to reassure Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, that the Scottish Government is doing enough to ensure that the Scottish Agricultural College, (SAC), is providing the animal disease surveillance service it is paid to provide across Scotland.
Following up continuing concerns raised by vets and farmers in Orkney
about the service provided by the SAC, after it failed to appoint a
successor to the late Dr Sandy Clark as head of the Thurso Vet Lab,
Liam McArthur tabled a series of questions to Ministers. The replies
demonstrate just how informal the arrangements are between the
Government and the SAC.
The replies from Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs
& the Environment, first confirm that there is no contract, instead
'The work is managed through a Memorandum of Understanding, which sets
out the framework and a series of descriptors, revised annually, which
set out the detail of what is required.'
When asked about the extent of the animal health surveillance work that
the SAC is required to carry out in Orkney, the minister replied, "The
surveillance work carried out by Scottish Agricultural College is
partly led by the demand for laboratory investigation from farmers and
veterinary surgeons. There are no regional targets set."
And his reply to a question on the extent of the monitoring by
Government of the disease surveillance work of the SAC was that they
are 'monitored through a system of formal monthly, quarterly and annual
reports and twice-yearly formal meetings between Scottish Government
and Scottish Agricultural College staff. These formal arrangements are
supplemented by frequent ad hoc reports and meetings.'
Mr McArthur said: "This all seems rather too cosy. If there is no
proper contract and it is all managed by a series of meetings, it
allows the SAC far too much leeway. It also makes it impossible for
farmers and vets to reassure themselves that the Government and the
industry is getting value for money.
"The lack of any regional targets is also worrying. In one question I
asked what assessment the Government had made of the impact on farmers
and veterinary practices in Orkney and Caithness of the decision by the
SAC not to appoint a successor to Sandy Clark. The answer did not
mention the impact on farmers and vets, just the amount of work done at
the Thurso Vet Lab. This make it look like the whole operation is run
to suit officials and the SAC."