§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what interim assessment has been made of evidence from the badger culling trials in Triplets B, C and F. [40411]
§ Mr. MorleyOn the basis of advice from the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), results from the badger field trial, which is part of the Government's wide ranging strategy to tackle TB in cattle, are expected by the end of 2004. Preliminary findings have not yet emerged but the Government will continue to liaise closely with the ISG during the course of the trial.
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Triplet C—East Cornwall Otterham CI Trial Area Launceston C2 Lanreath C3 Aggregated data on badger removal operations in localised areas under the'interim strategy' 1986–97 Total number of badgers caught 162 360 257 Percentage of badgers caught found to be infected with TB 19 24 22 Number of badgers trapped during the course of the trial to date 178 None 357
Triplet F—West Cornwall Madron Fl Trial Area Godolphin F2 StithiansF3 Number of cattle herds in trial area 137 206 253 Historical incidence of TB in cattle in herds in trial area Confirmed breakdowns: Three year (1997–99) 20 25 17 12 month (1999) 6 19 8 Annual incidence: Three year (1997–99)' 0.0487 0.0405 0.0224 12 month (1999)' 0.0438 0.0922 0.0316 Total surface area (trial area and inner buffer zone) (sq km)' 145 149 164 Total area for which permission for trial operations was sought (trial area and inner buffer zone) (sq km) 91 113 103 Number of land occupiers visited in trial area and inner buffer zone 252 527 658 Treatment Proactive Survey only Reactive Aggregated data on badger removal operations in localised areas under the 'interim strategy' 1986–97 Total number of badgers caught 469 246 414 Percentage of badgers caught found to be infected with TB 13 13 19 Number of badgers trapped during the course of the trial to date 45 None None 1 Number of breakdowns divided by total number of herds (per annum), expressed as a decimal figure 2 Some of this surface area will automatically be unsuitable for trial operations (including, for example, settlements, airfields, roads, rivers, lakes, quarries, etc.)
§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been gathered from the badger culling trials in Triplets B, C and F. [40412]
§ Mr. MorleyData from Triplets B, C and F is summarised in the table and is available on DEFRA's website at: http://defraweb/animalh/tb/. Other evidence
788W has also been collected from these triplets including the prevalence of TB in badgers caught in the trial, locations of capture, and the number and location of cattle TB breakdowns in trial areas. These data have not been released so as not to discourage participation in the trial, or encourage either illegal killing of badgers or interference with trial operations.789W
Triplet B—Devon/Cornwall Hartland B1 Trial area Putford B2 Bude B3 Number of cattle herds in trial area 90 153 129 Historical indicence of TB in cattle in herds in trial area: Confirmed breakdowns: Three year (1995–97) 37 48 35 12 month (1997) 16 26 11 Annual incidence: Three year (1995–97)' 0.1370 0.1046 0.0904 12 month (1997)' 0.1778 0.1699 0.0853 Total surface area (trial area and inner buffer zone) (km2)2 119 143 130 Total area for which permission for trial operations was sought (trial area and inner buffer zone) (km') 114 125 120 Number of land occupiers visited in trial area and inner buffer zone 164 270 232 Treatment Reactive Proactive Survey only
Triplet B—Devon/Cornwall Hartland B1 Trial area Puybrd B2 Bude B3 Aggregated data on badger removal operations in localised areas under the 'interim strategy' 1986–97: Total number of badgers caught 306 377 331 Percentage of badgers caught found to be infected with TB 32 20 37 Number of badgers trapped during the course of the trial to date 107 397 None 1 Number of breakdowns divided by total number of herds (per annum), expressed as a decimal figure 2 Some of this surface area will automatically be unsuitable for trial operations (including, for example, settlements, airfields, roads, rivers, lakes, quarries, etc.)
Triplet C—East Cornwall Otterham CI Trial area LauncestonC2 Lanreath C3 Number of cattle herds in trial area 151 180 107 Historical indicence of TB in cattle in herds in trial area: Confirmed breakdowns: Three year (1996–8) 21 16 14 12 month (1998) 7 9 5 Annual incidence: Three year (1996–98)1 0.0464 0.0296 0.0436 12 month (1997)2 0.0464 .05009 0.0467 Total surface area (trial area and inner buffer zone)(km2)2 145 157 141 Total area for which permission for trial operations was sought (trial area and inner buffer zone) (km2) 137 154 140 Number of land occupiers visited in trial area and inner buffer zone 259 315 237 Treatment Reactive Survey only Proactive Aggregated data on badger removal operations in localised areas under the'interim strategy' 1986–97: Total number of badgers caught 162 360 257 Percentage of badgers caught found to be infected with TB (%) 19 24 22 Number of badgers trapped during the course of the trial to date 178 None 357 1 Number of breakdowns divided by total number of herds (per annum), expressed as a decimal figure 2Some of this surface area will automatically be unsuitable for trial operations (including, for example, settlements, airfields, roads, rivers, lakes, quarries, etc.)
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Triplet F—West Cornwal Madron Fl Trial area Godolphin F2 Stithia F3 Number of cattle herds in trial area 137 206 253 Historical indicence of TB in cattle in herds in trial area: Confirmed breakdowns: Three year (1997–99) 20 25 17 12 month (1999) 6 19 8 Annual incidence: Three year (1997–99)1 0.0487 0.0405 0.0224 12 month (1999)1 0.0438 0.0922 0.0316 Total surface area (trial area and inner buffer zone)(km2)2 145 149 164 Total area for which permission for trial operations was sought (trial area and inner buffer zone) (km2) 91 113 103 Number of land occupiers visited in trial area and inner buffer zone 252 527 658 Treatment Proactive Survey only Reactive Aggregated data on badger removal operations in localised areas under the1'interim strategy' 1986–97: Total number of badgers caught 469 246 414 Percentage of badgers caught found to be infected with TB 13 13 19 Number of badgers trapped during the course of the trail to date 451 None None 1 Number of breakdowns divided by total number of herds (per annum), expressed as a decimal figure 2 Some of this surface area will automatically be unsuitable for trial operations (including, for example, settlements, airfields, roads, rivers, lakes, quarries, etc.)