§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been paid in compensation in respect of cattle slaughtered under the tuberculosis eradication scheme in each year since 1989.
§ Mr. MacleanThe amount of compensation paid for cattle slaughtered under the tuberculosis eradication programme is as follows:
£ million 1989 0.58 1990 1.10 1991 (to November) 0.65
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the action taken so far by him to control tuberculosis in deer.
§ Mr. MacleanTuberculosis in deer was made notifiable in June 1989. Slaughter with compensation arrangements were introduced on 1 September 1989 and a voluntary deer health scheme launched in December that year. Research into tuberculosis in deer is being pursued.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to launch a formal review of the evidence relating to bovine tuberculosis in badgers and the badger control strategy.
§ Mr. MacleanBadger control strategy is kept under continuous review by the Department, in conjunction with the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made to date on the development of a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in badgers.
§ Mr. MacleanAlthough research in this country and overseas is continuing, progress towards development of an effective vaccine for badgers is unlikely to be rapid.