§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps officials in his Department took to try to persuade the team drafting the Dunnet report to draft it in terms of endorsing the general policy on tuberculosis control in badgers but recommending changes in tactics or operational approach and to try to secure amendments to the draft where needed; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if, in the light of Mr. K. W. Wilkes' memorandum of 3 December suggesting that amendments be sought by his Department to the then draft of the Dunnet report, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary has anything to add to the reply to the hon. Member for South Shields of 27 March, Official Report, column 597, about departmental involvement in seeking changes to drafts of the Dunnet report.
§ Mr. JoplingA meeting took place on 5 December 1985 between the Dunnet committee and officials of my Department. The meeting was held at the request of the committee, who wished to discuss their preliminary conclusions, and had prepared a list of these conclusions for this purpose. The Ministry memorandum to which the hon. Member refers was produced in preparation for that meeting. In the course of the meeting, officials pointed out that the criticisms of existing operations which the committee intended to make were not directed against the policy of trying to minimise cross-infection from badgers to cattle, but against the procedures being used.
The hon. Member's question of 27 March referred to discussions on the draft report and requests for redrafting and it followed certain allegations which had appeared in the press. I confirm the reply which I gave to that question.