McArthur makes case for Thurso vet lab to review group

4.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jul 2010

Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, today met members of the team set up by the Scottish Government to review veterinary surveillance in Scotland. The panel was in Orkney for meetings local farming representatives, vets and Mr McArthur as part of the review process and to discuss local concerns about the way in which animal disease surveillance is delivered, notably through the SAC lab in Thurso.

Following the meeting, Liam McArthur commented;

"It was good to have an opportunity to discuss with the review group the ongoing concerns felt in Orkney about the way in which SAC is delivering a service to farmers, crofters and vets locally. David Mitchell, who chaired the meeting in the absence of John Kinnaird, clearly grasped the nature of these concerns and the frustration felt about the unwillingness of Scottish Ministers to be more active in ensuring the public gets full value for the money provided to SAC.

"For months now I have made clear the dissatisfaction felt about the failure of SAC to find a successor to the late Dr Sandy Clark as head of the Thurso Vet Lab. Despite numerous letters and even more parliamentary questions, however, the Cabinet Secretary stubbornly refuses to respond positively to the serious and legitimate concerns of the farming sector and vets in Orkney.

"The sense is that Richard Lochhead's approach betrays an all too cosy relationship between Pentland House and SAC, with a lack of appropriate incentives and an over-reliance on informal contacts.

"Indeed, having established the review group under John Kinnaird's chairmanship, it is unfortunate, though perhaps not surprising, that the Cabinet Secretary has gone to such lengths to ensure SAC is so well-represented on the group. Despite that, I am confident that the message from Orkney will have come across loud and clear and hope this will be reflected in the review group's findings."