§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that a meeting was held on Friday, 7th March between Professor Dunnet, Professor McInerrey and Dr. Jones and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to discuss the draft of the report produced by Professor Dunnet and his colleagues on badgers and bovine tuberculosis.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)I understand that Professor Dunnet and his team met on Friday, 7th March but no officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were present at the meeting other than the secretary to the review team. The aim has always been that Professor Dunnet and his colleagues should produce an independent report. Any suggestion that anything has been said or done by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to infringe their freedom in this regard is entirely without foundation.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
What informed views have been expressed on their behalf to Professor Dunnet about the draft report on badgers and bovine tuberculosis, and in particular whether they will confirm that a document recently circulated within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food states that, in respect of the Government's policy on badgers and bovine tuberculosis, "any change in policy must not be capable of interpretation as criticism of previous decisions by Ministry officials".
§ Lord BelsteadNo such views have been expressed on the Government's behalf to Professor Dunnet on his draft report on badgers and bovine tuberculosis. No document has been circulated within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food containing the statement referred to in the noble Lord's Question.