HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc415-6W
Charlotte Atkins

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the link between bovine TB and birds; and what plans he has to commission research on this. [69706]

Mr. Rooker

Birds do not give bovine TB and there is no significant evidence of them being a carrier of this infection. However, birds infected with avian TB can pass infection to cattle. This rarely produces clinical disease in cattle but can cause cross reactions to the tuberculin skin test. To overcome this we conduct a comparative skin test so that if cattle react to the avian tuberculin test as well as the bovine tuberculin test the interpretation of the results can be adjusted. This reduces the number of false positive cattle which are slaughtered unnecessarily.

Sir Peter Emery

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data his Department has collated on change in the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle over the last two years; if he will list the areas severely affected; and what action he is taking to overcome the problem. [70350]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer 10 February 1999]: The figures for new confirmed incidents of TB in cattle herds in Great Britain indicate a 9 per cent. increase between 1996 and 1997. Figures for 1998 are not yet available, but provisional estimates indicate an increase in the region of at least 46 per cent. over 1997. The areas most severely affected by TB are in the South West of England and parts of the West Midlands and South Wales, the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire having the highest number of new confirmed incidents in both 1997 and 1998.

We need to know why TB is increasing. Last August I announced a new strategy. MAFF and DH are taking action to ensure public health is not put in jeopardy. We test cattle regularly for TB, and slaughter those at risk. We are spending over £10 million on work to underpin a science based policy which can be sustained in the long-term, and control TB in the interests of cattle, badgers and people. There are three elements:

  • work to develop a vaccine: although this will take 10–15 years and success is not guaranteed, many see it as the best long-term prospect;
  • research to improve our understanding of the disease and how it spreads;
  • a trial designed to show the most effective means of culling.

It will be some time before we have results from the whole programme. But as results become available we can design policies around them.

Meanwhile we have increased compensation for slaughtered animals from 75 per cent. to 100 per cent. of market value. We have a working group reviewing the frequency and effectiveness of testing, and have asked it to report by Easter. There is a lot more farmers can do themselves to reduce their TB risk and we are working with interested organisations to agreed new guidance on practical measures which can be taken.

We shall continue to review other suggestions which might help in dealing with this exceptionally difficult problem.