§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what potential sources of infection he has eliminated in respect of the recent outbreak of bovine TB in South Shropshire. [137552]
§ Ms QuinThe recent outbreak of bovine TB in cattle in South Shropshire is still under veterinary investigation.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to test badgers for evidence of TB in areas where bovine TB has recently emerged. [137561]
§ Ms QuinThere is no reliable test for bovine TB in live badgers. All badger carcases from the Government's badger culling trial are tested for bovine TB at post mortem. Additionally, a sample of badger carcases found on roads or on farms will be tested for bovine TB in a new survey in seven counties of England, of which Shropshire is one.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent assessment he has made of the effect of badger protection upon the health of the UK cattle herd. [137554]
§ Ms QuinThe Krebs report concluded that the sum of evidence strongly supports the view that in Britain badgers are a significant source of TB infection in cattle. However, it went on to say that it is not possible to quantify what contribution badgers make to cattle infection. The Government accepted the report's recommendation that MAFF should set up a field trial to quantify the impact of culling badgers on TB in cattle. The trial is in progress and results are expected no later than 2004.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy and practice is regarding post mortems on badgers killed on public highways. [137559]
§ Ms QuinI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 6 November 2000,Official Report, column 48W.