§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding the need for carcases 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. Soames[pursuant to his reply, 25 June 1993, c. 328–29]: I would like to make it clear that the statement that badgers infected with tuberculosis do not pose a significant threat to the national cattle herd was based on scientific evidence that the disease in badgers has been associated with breakdowns in cattle herds only in south-west England and in a limited number of other areas.