§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of badgers culled each year since 1970 and the proportion culled each year which were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis.
§ Mr. MacleanFrom 1971 to 1982, a total of 6,075 badgers were culled, of which 803–13–22 per cent.—were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis. Annual figures are not available for those years.
The annual figures for badgers culled and the percentage of those proven to be infected with bovine tuberculosis since 1983 are as follows:
Number Per cent 1983 1,239 12.43 1984 1,337 16.89 1985 1,115 13.36 1986 782 15.86 1987 711 12.94 1988 778 27.25 1989 727 16.78 1990 811 19.24 This compares with some 20,000 badgers killed each year in road accidents and a total adult badger population of approximately 250,000.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the estimated percentages of cattle in Great Britain infected with bovine tuberculosis in each year since 1965.
§ Mr. MacleanThe estimated percentage of the cattle population which reacted positively to the intradermal tuberculin test was as follows:
566W
Year per cent. 1965 0.029 1966 0.027 1967 0.025 1968 0.018 1969 0.020 1970 0.016 1971 0.014 1972 0.004 1973 0.011 1974 0.011 1975 0.011 1976 0.008 1977 0.005 1978 0.005 1979 0.005 1980 0.007 1981 0.007 1982 0.004 1983 0.005 1984 0.005 1985 0.005 1986 0.004 1987 0.007 1988 0.006 1989 0.008 1990 0.009
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether dairy and non-dairy cattle imported from Ireland are routinely tested for tuberculosis.
§ Mr. MacleanYes. Council directive 64/432/EEC established the testing requirements for cattle traded within the Community.