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Legislative Change Working Party

Overview

The Legislative Change Working Party was established to develop and finalise recommendations for reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

A Legislation Working Party was originally set up in 2017 to produce recommendations for reform. After consultation, these recommendations were approved by RCVS Council in 2021.

Since then, further work has addressed areas not fully covered by the 2017 group. Discussions with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) regarding the prospect of new legislation have also continued.

The Legislative Change Working Party now acts as a contact group to finalise recommendations before they go to Council for approval, and to provide considered responses to queries from Defra.

Terms of reference

  • Finalise any outstanding recommendations for legislative reform before referral to Council for approval.
  • Act as a contact point for any queries from Defrarelated to replacing the VSA 1966.
  • Oversee related aspects of the College’s public affairs and communications plans.

Membership

Secretary: Ben Myring

  • Tim Walker - Chair; Council member (Lay)
  • Belinda Andrews Jones - Chair, VNC / Chair, Practice Standards Group (PSG)
  • David Barrett - Council member (FRCVS)
  • Linda Belton - Senior Vice-President
  • Eleanor Ferguson - Consultant, Former Registrar
  • Lyndsay Hughes - President, British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
  • Liz Mullineaux - Senior Vice President, British Veterinary Association (BVA)
  • Tim Parkin - President
  • Simon Williams - VNC member (RVN)
  • Joanna Clift - Council member (Lay)
  • Tim Hutchinson - Junior Vice-President
  • Sue Paterson - Council member (FRCVS)

Attending staff

  • Julie Dugmore - Director of Veterinary Nursing
  • Gemma Kingswell - Head of Legal Services (Standards)
  • Lizzie Lockett - CEO
  • Ben Myring - Head of Policy, Insight & Public Affairs
  • Clare Paget, Registrar / Director of Legal Services