§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether, following publication of the new five-year programme, badger culling will now cease in Wales;
(2) if there will be a suspension of badger culling following the announcement of the revised procedure.
§ Mr. RedwoodMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the Government's revised approach regarding badgers and tuberculosis on 8 December. This gave details of the action programme which it has been decided to set in place, which includes a trial of a new badger control strategy to run for at least five years based on the application of the test for tuberculosis in the live badger in areas of the south-west of England. In areas outside those proposed for the trial the existing arrangements will continue, which will mean that no action will be taken against badgers on any farm in those areas where there has been a tuberculosis breakdown unless it has been specifically sanctioned by a sub-committee of the consultative panel on badgers and bovine tuberculosis.