§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of the £81 million paid out between April 2001 and March 2004 as compensation to farmers whose cattle had been infected with tuberculosis would have been saved by a cull of badgers; and whether they will review the economic case for culling badgers which are thought to be infected with tuberculosis. [HL4860]
§ Lord WhittyThe effect of culling badgers on the incidence of TB in cattle herds has yet to be established. The randomised badger culling trial (RBCT), which was designed to provide information about whether badger culling is effective in reducing TB in cattle, is ongoing. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate what effect badger culling would have had on compensation expenditure between April 2001 and March 2004.
Earlier this year we sought views on badger culling and badger management as part of our consultation on the review of the long-term TB strategy. We are now working with a small stakeholder group to anlayse the responses received and to develop a strategy for publication early in 2005. Consideration of possible future policy options, including policies involving wildlife management, will include a cost benefit analysis.