HC Deb 23 October 2003 vol 411 cc777-9
6. Mr. Colin Breed (South-East Cornwall)

If she will make a statement on the impact of bovine TB on the countryside's economy. [133786]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)

The impact of bovine tuberculosis on the economy of the countryside will vary from region to region. Farmers are compensated for animals slaughtered, and, in addition, payment for TB testing makes a significant contribution to the income of veterinary practices.

Mr. Breed

I thank the Minister for that response. I know that he has been in his post for only a little while, but I wonder whether he would be interested in a report from the Department's predecessor, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, entitled "Badger control policy: an economic assessment", which suggested that the then Conservative Government would undertake a review of policy in relation to the economy in this area. The report is dated 1984, and since then we have had 13 years of inertia from the Conservative Government and six years of it from this one. That means that, today, we are seeing more and more cases of TB—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question, and it is supposed to be brief.

Mr. Breed

The question is, when, after nearly 20 years, are our farmers going to get a credible policy to eradicate bovine TB?

Mr. Bradshaw

I am aware that this problem has existed for some time, but, with all due respect, we are not responsible for the first 13 of those years. We have set up the Krebs trials, which are now back on course after the delay that was inflicted on them by the foot and mouth outbreak. We expect them to report in 2006. If, in the meantime, they have anything important to say, I will take those reports on board and we will change our policy accordingly.

Mr. David Drew (Stroud)

I concur with what my hon. Friend the Minister says, but will he look carefully at the results of the research that is going on in Ireland at the moment? Will he assure me that he will look only at the scientific outcome of that research, rather than at the propaganda, which is not helping the case in trying to find a solution to this awful disease?

Mr. Bradshaw

My hon. Friend makes an important point. The research that has been going on in Ireland has not yet been published or peer reviewed, and there has been a great deal of mis-reporting in the press. I hope to visit Ireland shortly to have a look at the work that is being done there, and if there is anything useful and scientifically accurate that we can use to inform our policy we will, of course, take it on board.

Mr. Richard Bacon (South Norfolk)

Will the Minister confirm that he has just moved the date for the announcement of the results of the Krebs study by two years, from 2004—the previously announced date—to 2006? Many people are at a loss to understand why the study, which has been rambling on for years, seems unable to come up with any definitive answers on whether bovine TB is transmitted from badgers to cattle. May I suggest that the Minister gets a field, fences it off, puts in some cattle that he knows are healthy, introduces a few badgers that he knows have TB, and sees what happens?

Mr. Bradshaw

No. The hon. Gentleman reveals his outstanding ignorance not only of the nature of the Krebs trials but of science. We cannot rush science. It has been known, certainly since I have been the Minister responsible for these matters, that the Krebs trials would not report until 2006, so I do not know where the hon. Gentleman has been for the last few months.

Mr. David Kidney (Stafford)

In our debate on this subject in Westminster Hall, I described the approach of bovine TB towards the Stafford constituency from two directions. Sadly, this week, I have received notice of a second TB breakdown in a cattle herd in the constituency. Does my hon. Friend understand the anger that farmers feel, because they feel powerless to act against this tide and believe that the Government should do something about it? In that debate, we talked about adopting a plan B if the present approach did not work and Krebs did not produce any advance on it. My hon. Friend the Minister even thought that my idea of a seminar for hon. Members would contribute to creating a plan B. Where are we in relation to developing our alternative arrangements?

Mr. Bradshaw

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Nobody should underestimate the distress and anger felt by farmers whose herds suffer a TB breakdown. I hope to honour his request for a seminar on this issue, in which all hon. Members will be free to take part. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also announced a review of the TB policy, and we expect to consult on that before the end of the year. That will include consultation on a plan B, should the Krebs trials show something dramatic, or, indeed, not show anything at all.