Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the risks to animal and public health posed by individuals calling themselves veterinary nurses, despite not being registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; and what plans they have to make "veterinary nurse" a protected title reserved for those who are properly qualified and regulated.

Defra are aware of concerns over people without suitable qualifications calling themselves veterinary nurses. There are over 19,000 veterinary nurses registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons with appropriate qualifications, although no assessment has been made about the impact of unqualified persons using this title. The protection of the tile “veterinary nurse” is being considered along with other proposals for veterinary legislative reform.