§ Lord HolmPatrickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can give further details of membership of the independent scientific review into the policy on tuberculosis and badgers which was announced on 23rd July.
Lord LucasMy right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture is pleased to be able to announce the membership of the independent review team on tuberculosis and badgers. Apart from Professor Krebs, who has already kindly agreed to chair the review, the members are Professor Roy Anderson FRS, Dr. W. I. Morrison, Professor Douglas Young, Professor Tim Clutton-Brock FRS and Dr. Crystl Donnelly.
The review will look at the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle and badgers and assess the scientific evidence for the links between them. It will take account of EC policies on reducing and eliminating the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle and of any risk to the human population. Its overall purpose will be to review, in the light of scientific evidence, present government policy on badgers and tuberculosis, and to make recommendations.
The review is now beginning. Interested parties who wish to submit written evidence to the committee are invited to do so before 15th January 1997.