Council focuses on disciplinary machinery

At its meeting yesterday, RCVS Council called for powers to reform the composition of the Disciplinary Committee.

In July, Council consulted on the recommendations of the Veterinary Legislation Group. The Group's report recommended focusing on three areas where the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 particularly needed to be brought up to date. The consultation period closed on 21 October.

The first of the priorities identified by the Veterinary Legislation Group concerned the composition of the Disciplinary Committee, which ought to be independent of the RCVS Council. At the moment, the Act requires all the members of the Committee to be members of the Council.

Council is now looking for power to make rules from time to time laying down the composition of the Disciplinary Committee and of the Preliminary Investigation Committee. Members of Council would not be eligible for appointment to the Disciplinary Committee.

In the interests of transparency, the rules would be subject to approval by the Government.

There is no immediate proposal to change the composition of the Preliminary Investigation Committee, but the proposal would give flexibility in the future to adjust the make-up of the Committee as appropriate.

The proposal means a change in the Veterinary Surgeons Act, but this can be done without the Government having to put a Bill through Parliament.

Under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, Ministers can make orders amending Acts of Parliament for certain purposes. Such an order could be made to change the composition of the two Committees.

The other priorities identified by the Veterinary Legislation Group concerned the jurisdiction and powers of the Preliminary Investigation and Disciplinary Committees and the composition of the RCVS Council. Having taken stock of the responses to the consultation, Council has decided that these areas should be considered further.

A thorough revision of the Veterinary Surgeons Act is still necessary for other purposes, in particular to bring in full statutory regulation for veterinary nurses.