Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
The regulators set out a number of ways in which they are addressing these skills...
Recommendation
The regulators set out a number of ways in which they are addressing these skills shortages. On recruitment and retention of veterinarians, FSA has worked with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to agree a temporary arrangement that allows veterinarians who do not meet the language requirements to be employed for twelve months while they improve their English skills. It is also looking at ways to make a career in veterinary public health more attractive to UK-qualified vets as well, including directly employing veterinarians to provide more career progression; reviewing pay and exploring ways to make roles more flexible.20 CMA told us that the interesting and influential nature of it works helps to attract staff and it is participating in a HM Treasury pilot that gives it more pay flexibility.21 In the case of HSE, it has invested significantly in training, with 25% of staff time in its Chemicals Regulation Division spent on training in 2021–22 as it has taken on a significant number of recent graduates to build its capacity post-EU Exit.22 However, it is clear that risks remain, with all three regulators identifying challenges in the recruitment and retention of appropriately skilled staff as one of the key risks to their post-EU Exit regulatory regimes.23 Capacity and future resourcing
Government Response Summary
The FSA has already taken steps to address the shortage of qualified veterinarians by working with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to allow overseas-trained vets to improve their English skills while working, improving the attractiveness of public health veterinary roles, providing additional funding to improve pay and conditions, and developing a graduate program.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2b. PAC recommendation: The FSA should work with the Department for Education and relevant professional bodies to address the shortage in qualified veterinarians. 2.15 The FSA agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.16 There is a need to address the shortage of veterinarians (including Official Veterinarians - OVs). The FSA is working with the relevant professional bodies to immediately address the shortage of OVs as set out below. The FSA has also engaged with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to take forward the recommendation to work with the Department for Education and relevant professional bodies to address the shortage in qualified veterinarians. The FSA, with others, will also seek to increase the attractiveness of a career within the Government Veterinary Services. 2.17 The FSA has considered and undertaken a number of steps to improve recruitment and retention of official veterinarians. These are set out below. 2.18 To support recruitment for these roles, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has agreed to the use of their Temporary Registration Policy to allow veterinarians trained overseas to improve their English language skills while working in abattoirs in England and Wales with professional support and supervision. 2.19 The FSA is specifically: • working to improve the attractiveness of the public health veterinary role to UK graduates and continuing to work with the Government Veterinary Services and wider profession to develop this further, • providing additional funding to improve pay and conditions for the official veterinarian role; and • developing a graduate programme for recent and returning veterinary graduates wishing to become government vets. 2.20 This remains an ongoing operational risk to the FSA and other actions will be taken as necessary.