Who We Are

Founded in 2013, the Veterinary Policy Research Foundation provides Professor The Lord Trees with research assistance in the House of Lords

The Internship

The Parliamentary Veterinary Internship offers the chance to work at the House of Lords alongside a veterinarian in parliament. It offers insight into veterinary policy and the parliamentary process and is a chance, for those interested in policy making and the varied roles veterinarians contribute to society, to develop new skills during a unique career development opportunity. The position is open to veterinary graduates (who are MRCVS).  Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of the veterinary profession in the UK.

Applications are now open for the next Parliamentary Veterinary Internship, commencing in October 2023.

Latest News

Blog

  • UK Antibiotic Usage and Resistance Fact File

    UK Antibiotic Usage and Resistance Fact File is available here This document draws on publicly available data to provide an unbiased factual overview of antibiotic usage data in the UK in both animals and humans. Resistance data for E. coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are also presented for both animals and humans. Finally, the document…

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  • Higher insurance premiums revealed for popular brachycephalic BREEDs

    Investigation into UK dog health insurance premium prices shows greatly increased costs for popular brachycephalic breeds – consistent with their known health risks. Download full article here Gemma Chaters1; Alexander John Trees2, Gabrielle Laing3 1University of Glasgow; 2House of Lords; 3Veterinary Policy Research Foundation House of Lords G.Chaters.1@research.gla.ac.uk Abstract Certain dog breeds are increasing in…

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  • To stop zoonotic diseases, we need to make One Health a reality. Tackling rabies is a good place to start

    How rabies control can help build the One Health systems we need. By Professor Sarah Cleaveland and Professor the Lord Trees* The coronavirus pandemic has opened the world’s eyes to zoonotic diseases – illnesses that are transmitted from animals to humans (and sometimes vice-versa). Covid-19, Ebola, MERS, avian flu and HIV all originated in animals.…

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  • Animal Welfare

    Collection of reports and Parliamentary briefings concerning UK Animal Welfare issues of political interest This page is in development. To recommend the inclusion of a new document please contact us. General reference July 2016: Horses in Our Hands – Equine Welfare in England and Wales (University of Bristol/World Horse Welfare) March 2016: UK Public attitudes to Animal…

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  • Brexit and Vets

    Since the referendum decision on 23rd June 2016 we have been actively compiling briefing materials relating to the challenges and opportunities presented  leaving the EU. Below we have listed are a collection of documents which we consider to be helpful resources for veterinarians, parliamentarians and the media in assessing the impact of Brexit on veterinarians…

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  • Peers interview Defra Officials on the impact of Brexit on Animal Health and Welfare

    In March 2017 the House of Lords EU Select Subcommittee on Energy and Environment interviewed Nigel Gibbens (UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra) and Pamela Thompson (Head of EU Exit Team for Animal & Plant Health, Defra) as part of their inquiry into the impacts of Brexit on Agriculture in the UK. Under the Chairmanship of…

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  • Would you like to be the next Parliamentary Veterinary Intern?

    Lord Trees is pleased to welcome applications for the next Parliamentary Veterinary Internship starting in October 2017. The internship offers the chance to work at the House of Lords alongside the sole veterinarian active in Parliament. It offers a personal insight into veterinary policy and the parliamentary process; a chance for those interested in policy…

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  • Brexit and Veterinary Research

    Lord Trees and the Parliamentary Intern have recently been very active in researching and speaking up on the potential impacts which Brexit may have on research and higher education. Today, an article written by Lord Trees was published in the RCVS Knowledge website “Veterinary Evidence Online“. The article includes commentary on the impacts which Brexit…

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Contact Us

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the current intern, Fiona Shuttleworth, here: