§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers have been killed in connection with the campaign against bovine tuberculosis in each year from 1986 to 1990 and so far in 1991; what has been the cost annually of this campaign; and what proposals he has to continue it.
§ Mr. MacleanThe number of badgers killed as part of official badger removal operations in 1986 to 1990 were as follows:
Number 1986 782 1987 711 1988 788 1989 727 1990 811 A total of 771 have been killed so far in 1991.
These figures compare with an estimated total badger population of some 350,000, of which it is thought that over 20,000 are killed each year in road accidents.
The annual cost of badger control is approximately £439,000 out of total expenditure of some £13,430,728 on bovine tuberculosis.
The possibility of using a live test on badgers is being examined.