HL Deb 10 June 1986 vol 476 cc243-4WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What have been the estimated costs of (a) badger control operations, (b) research on badgers and bovine tuberculosis carried out or funded by MAFF, and (c) administrative work connected with the badgers and TB Advisory Panel, and the Zuckerman and Dunnet reports, in each of the years 1975–76 to 1985–86; and what compensation payments have been made to farmers for cattle slaughtered as part of the TB eradication programme in each of the years 1975–76 to 1985–86 respectively in areas where badger control operations were being carried out.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)

The estimated operational costs of (a) badger control and (b) research and development on badgers and bovine tuberculosis carried out or funded by MAFF are shown in the table below. An important contributory factor in the increase in costs since 1981–82 was the change in June 1982 from gassing to trapping as the principal method of control.

£'000
1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
Badger Control 90 100 110 160 210 250
Research and Development 40 60 60 150 140 180

£'000
1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Badger Control 370 500 650 680 710
Research and Development 300 380 340 360 410
The estimated costs of administrative work connected with the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis are shown in the table below. Also shown are the estimated costs of allowances, etc., and secretarial support for the Zuckerman and Dunnet reviews. The costs of other administrative work connected with the reviews are not available.

£'000
1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
Consultative Panel 7 11 7 7 9 11
Zuckerman review 4 11
Dunnet review

£'000
1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Consultative Panel 12 19 18 22 16
Zuckerman review
Dunnet review 18 37
Details of compensation payments made by areas where badger control operations were being carried out are not available. However, set out below are the total compensation payments made annually in the Ministry's South West region, where the great majority of badger control operations have been located. Such payments are recorded on a calendar year basis.

£'000
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Compensation payments for reactors and dangerous contacts 190 170 133 246 128

£'000
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
Compensation payments for reactors and dangerous contacts 244 313 166 232 209 219