§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with farmers relating to diseased badgers. [42484]
§ Mr. RookerI met representatives from the National Farmers Union on 19 May to discuss implementation of the Krebs report on TB in cattle and badgers.
426W
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the advantages of extending the right of farmers to cull diseased badgers; and if he will make a statement. [42483]
§ Mr. RookerBadgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and may not be killed, taken or their setts interfered with except under licence. The Report on bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers by Professor Krebs and the Independent Scientific Review Group makes clear that there is at present no scientific basis for a general policy of killing badgers to control bovine TB. It recommends a proper experimental study to determine the effectiveness of badger culling as a disease control strategy. We are planning such a study and have meanwhile brought to an end the "interim strategy" of limited badger culling by Ministry staff. In the light of the Krebs report, we see no basis for issuing licences to farmers to kill badgers to prevent the spread of bovine TB to cattle.