§ Baroness Rendell of Baberghasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they propose to take in response to the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the badger culling trial. [HL798]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)The badger is not an endangered species in this country. We give it statutory protection which goes well beyond what the Bern Convention requires. However tuberculosis is a serious disease of cattle (and humans and badgers). We have carried out a thorough scientific review and a wide public consultation. We have thus carefully explored the possible solutions for the effective control of bovine TB, We have suspended badger culling throughout most of Great Britain but have reluctantly concluded that we must test its effectiveness as one part of a broad strategy which includes vaccine research as well as checks on other wildlife species for TB. We therefore intend to continue the trial and will explain to the Standing Committee why this action is fully consistent with the provisions of the Bern Convention.