§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding the need for carcasses of dead badgers to be checked for tuberculosis; and what is her assessment of the dangers to cattle of unchecked tuberculosis in the badger population.
§ Mr. SoamesI have received no representations regarding the need for carcasses of dead badgers to be checked for tuberculosis. Badgers infected with tuberculosis do not pose a significant threat to the national cattle herd. In the south-west of England, where the majority of cattle breakdowns occur, some 0.5 per cent. of 329W herds had a new confirmed breakdown in 1992. Almost all of these were considered by the Department's veterinary staff to be due to badger infection.
§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of tuberculosis in cattle have been reported in each quarter since 1 January 1990.
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4thQuarter 1990 New confirmed breakdowns 37 31 49 26 1991 New confirmed breakdowns 17 28 42 38 1992 New confirmed breakdowns 26 34 52 43 1993 New confirmed breakdowns 58 — — —