§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what areas of West Gloucestershire are now affected by bovine tuberculosis.
§ Mr. StrangAlthough bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed in cattle and badgers in various parts of West Gloucestershire in recent years only one herd which is on a farm to the west of Gloucester is subject to restrictions at the present time. As yet, insufficient is known about the exact extent of the infection in badgers to be able to make a precise delineation of the areas in which the disease exists in this species.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of compensation is paid to farmers with cattle suffering from bovine tuberculosis.
§ Mr. StrangThe level of compensation payable for a bovine animal, slaughtered because it is an affected animal or has reacted to a tuberculin test, is 75 per cent. of the value the animal would have fetched on the open market at the time of valuation if it had not been affected or was not a reactor, subject to a maximum payment of £300. Compensation at full market value with no upper limit is payable for an animal slaughtered because it has been exposed to infection by contact with an affected animal or a reactor.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to enable farmers to protect themselves from loss of income due to bovine tuberculosis in their cattle.
§ Mr. StrangCompensation based upon open market values is paid whenever animals are slaughtered compulsorily on account of bovine tuberculosis. 625W It is a long-established principle of disease eradication that no additional payment should be made from public funds to meet consequential loss of income. Insurance is available against such loss.