§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to change the method by which the incidence of TB in cattle is calculated to one based on cattle numbers. [52857]
§ Mr. RookerThe definition of incidence in EU legislation has recently changed, but it is still based on the number of confirmed herd breakdowns as a percentage of the total number of herds. We will be reviewing the testing frequencies to be used in different parts of the country on this basis.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the trial areas in which badgers can be culled. [53021]
§ Mr. RookerAn independent scientific group was established in February this year to advise on the implementation of recommendations in the Krebs Report, including the design of the culling trial which will produce scientifically robust results. The Group's advice has just been presented to Ministers. An announcement will be made once this advice has been fully considered.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the incidence of TB in cattle in areas where badgers are rare. [53013]
§ Mr. RookerA report by Wilson, Harris and McLaren entitled "Changes in the British badger population 1988 to 1997", published in 1997 by the People's Trust for Endangered Species, shows the areas of lowest badger main sett density in Great Britain to be Scotland and East Anglia, with the north of England also being estimated to be relatively low. Outside areas of high incidence of TB in cattle in the west of England and in south Wales, the incidence of TB in cattle herds in Great Britain is less than 0.1 per cent. However, Professor Krebs concluded that there was a considerable local variation in risk of TB incidents and recommended that further work should be done to assess the reasons for this.