HL Deb 22 July 1982 vol 433 c1074WA
Lord Houghton of Sowerby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the systematic extermination of the badger is the only policy they have for eliminating bovine tuberculosis.

Earl Ferrers

At the farm level, the Government's policy for eradicating bovine tuberculosis rests on the removal and the slaughter of cattle which react to the tuberculin test and of their immediate contacts, together with investigation of the source of infection. Additionally, carcase meat is also subject to inspection in the slaughterhouse. Cattle, which are imported on the hoof, must have passed the tuberculin test in the country of origin. It is only in cases where thorough investigation reveals that there has been a clear threat to cattle from tuberculosis infection in badgers that a badger control operation has been undertaken. Theextent of such operations since 1975 has been limited to the South West region (of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) where it has been confined to less than 4 per cent. of the land area, and to small areas in Staffordshire and Wales.

House adjourned at fourteen minutes past ten o'clock.