The Veterinary Policy Research Foundation was formed in 2013 and it provides Professor The Lord Trees with research assistance in the House of Lords. In particular it funds a veterinary parliamentary intern. The foundation and the intern supports Lord Trees' work, which includes a 'veterinary voice' within the House of Lords. The VRPF produces an annual report and supper which gives the XLVet community connectivity and an opportunity to both listen and be heard.
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VPRF
VPRF
To be effective, contributions to House of Lords’ business must be well researched and supported by evidence. Peers appointed to the House of Lords are not provided with research assistance nor allowances to employ a researcher. The Parliamentary Veterinary Intern’s output is therefore invaluable, and the impact of Lord Trees’s speeches, questions and publications attests to their worth.
The Veterinary Policy Research Foundation (VPRF) was set up by Lord Trees to provide a legal and financial vehicle which was transparent, subject to good governance and independent of Lord Trees’s finances, with the purpose of employing an intern/researcher. It appears to be a novel if not unique initiative in the House of Lords.
The VPRF is a not-for-profit company registered with Companies House and is funded entirely by donations. In addition to providing research and administrative support to Lord Trees, it is intended that the internship provides a career development opportunity for vets, as well as providing EMS opportunities for veterinary students.
The work of the VPRF focuses on areas relevant to Lord Trees’s expertise and interests, including animal health and welfare; veterinary matters; agriculture, food and rural affairs; higher education; international development; professional regulation; science and technology; One Health and tropical medicine.
VPRF Aims
To support Lord Trees to:
i) scrutinise, revise and improve legislation
ii) raise awareness and inform discussions amongst Members of Parliament and Peers, of issues relating to Lord Trees’s registered interests in an objective, evidence-based way through oral and written questions, debates, All-Party Parliamentary Groups and committees
iii) enhance the profile of the veterinary profession, veterinary science and veterinary industry in parliament and the public arena
And:
iv) to ensure the VPRF website and its communications are available for parliamentarians, stakeholders and the wider public and to produce ‘FactFiles’ and information on aspects of public and animal health and welfare, veterinary science and related industries to better inform opinion and debate
v) to document and disseminate the activities of the VPRF
vi) to provide feedback to the veterinary profession on the development of policy and the importance and means of influencing it
vii) to create work experience opportunities and outreach work, to contribute to leadership training and widening participation across all levels of the profession and its related industries.
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