England Implementation Plan
Improving Government delivery
One of the key themes of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) for Great Britain 
(1.2 MB) is delivering and enforcing animal health and welfare standards. Defra’s Delivery Change Programme aims to rationalise Government delivery partnerships and give a clear line of sight from policy, through delivery, to outcomes.
In June 2006, David Eves CB completed his Review of the Animal Health and Welfare Delivery Landscape (225 KB) for Defra, making 55 wide-ranging recommendations, including clarity on roles and responsibilities and better performance management. Eves highlighted the need for greater coordination as a significant issue and recommended a pivotal role for Animal Health (formerly the State Veterinary Service) and, in time, the possible migration of wider inspection and enforcement functions into a new Animal Health Agency centred on the current Animal Health.
Defra has considered the recommendations with Animal Health, Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) and other delivery bodies, and consulted on its proposed approach to taking these issues forward. The consultation closed in October 2007 and a summary of responses was published.
In January 2008, Defra published an action plan (72 KB) setting out how it will take forward each of Eves' 55 recommendations.
Page last modified:
20 May, 2008