3. Mr Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to improve the time taken between the testing for brucellosis and issuing test results.      (AQO 3824/08)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I am aware from feedback from the recent farmers’ meetings held as part of the brucellosis initiative and from talking to farmers that they have experienced delays in receiving brucellosis test results. The delays occurred because, as a result of improved surveillance, we have increased the volume of brucellosis testing by 15% from the figure for the same period last year. That increased volume has had an impact on turnaround times.

During the first quarter of 2008, the average time that it took to make a result available after having taken a sample rose to 10·7 days from 8·25 days for the same period in 2007. Moreover, there was additional pressure on staff resources and availability as, over that period, AFBI was also processing tests for bluetongue. AFBI has now redeployed staff, and I am pleased to say that there is no longer a backlog of tests for brucellosis.

Mr Burns: Does the Minister agree that the time currently taken by her Department to release results is unacceptable? Will she consider applying a 30-day retention period from the day that the test results are issued?

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In the first quarter of 2007, the average time from sampling to delivery at the laboratory was 4·5 days. In the same period in 2008, that figure increased slightly to five days. Again, that was due to the increased volume of testing this year, combined with peak demand by farmers for veterinary service staff to carry out sampling during the housing period. That meant that those who took the samples had less time to return to their offices to process the test results. Resource constraints also adversely affect delivery times.

The Veterinary Service is continuing to monitor performance in those areas to minimise the impact on the programme and the delays experienced by farmers. I assure the Member that I take this issue very seriously and that I wish to give farmers the maximum amount of time following receipt of their test results before they move or sell cattle. I am very aware of that issue, which has been raised in the successful meetings that we held on the brucellosis initiative earlier this year.