Vet budget cuts of £6m 'dangerous'
UK - Vets have warned that cuts of £6 million to Defra’s veterinary budget revealed this week are ‘dangerous’ and will potentially lower the country’s defences against diseases like avian flu and foot-and-mouth.A written parliamentary answer from Rural Affairs Minister Barry Gardiner on Tuesday also revealed cuts of £283,000 (7 per cent) for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, £839,000 (7 per cent) for the Pesticides Safety Directorate and £403,000 (8 per cent) for Food From Britain.
It also confirmed previously known cuts of £24m for the Environment Agency’s budget and £13m for Natural England.
Ironically, the one body to see its budget increased was the Rural Payments Agency, whose overspend on the SPS was partly responsible for the general belt-tightening. Its reward is a £23m (11 per cent) budget increase.
Most of the reaction to the figures centred around the veterinary cuts, however. There is considerable alarm in particular over the impact on the SVS, which plays a role in monitoring disease like avian flu and foot-and-mouth.
Source: farmersguardian.com