8. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Scotland’s Rural College on the deployment of veterinary surveillance centres. (S4O-04768)

Earlier this year, SRUC consulted on the future of its disease surveillance laboratory network. In response to a large number of concerns expressed through the consultation on specific aspects of the proposals, it is now considering alternative proposals and intends to bring them forward for discussion this Friday at the strategic management board for veterinary surveillance. The Scottish Government has been in close contact with SRUC throughout the process and will continue to be so to ensure that the provision of veterinary surveillance services continues to meet the standards that the strategic management board has specified.

The minister will be aware that Auchincruive in my constituency hosts one of the busiest disease surveillance centres in a livestock-intensive area. Can she give me any assurances that that centre will be retained in the national network?

As I understand it, SRUC has indicated to the Scottish Government that it no longer proposes to move the Ayr disease surveillance centre to Glasgow.

The Inverness surveillance centre has been under threat. Will the cabinet secretary listen to SRUC’s evidence and take some time before he makes up his mind on what to do?

I am sure that the cabinet secretary will do that. SRUC has indicated to the Scottish Government that it now proposes to open a post mortem facility in the Inverness area to replace the Drummond Hill site.