COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR VETERINARY PRACTICES (No. 2)

That this House recognises that the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 needs reviewing by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in order to allow the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) broader and more up-to-date powers; further recognises that despite the excellent care generally provided by veterinary surgeons things can go wrong; further recognises that the current RCVS complaints procedure is limited to instances of professional misconduct, but has been made as robust, fair, objective and transparent as possible; considers that service users have a right to such a procedure in all respects; and welcomes the RCVS council's decision to make the case for a legislative reform order to change its disciplinary machinery pending a new Veterinary Surgeons Act.