Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what fees her Department has proposed for veterinarians who bid successfully in the tendering process for testing for tuberculosis in cattle.

Details of the fees payable by the successful bidders are subject to commercial confidentiality and not shared. Redacted copies of the awarded contracts will be available on Contracts Finder once these have been awarded. However, within the Invitation to Tender documentation it was clear that Defra was seeking the ability to deliver a consistent quality assured service, which would be important in identifying successful suppliers. Other factors, including the provision of a locally responsive service and the use of small businesses which otherwise support a sustainable livestock farming industry and wider rural economy, would also be important whilst cost would still be a factor. Tenderers were invited to submit tenders for each Geographical Lot based on their fees not exceeding the annual reference value of each the Geographical Lots (2013/14) and, in three Geographical Lots, the estimated value of the Total Reference Value less 10%.