§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he made of the research carried out by his Department's laboratories into the effect of trace element deficiencies in cattle resistant to TB, in reaching his decision to proceed with the cull of the badger population. [64981]
§ Mr. RookerI have no wish to kill badgers and considered all alternative approaches before concluding that the culling trial must be an integral part of our wide ranging programme to develop a sustainable science based policy to control TB in cattle.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the compliance of the proposed randomised badger culling trial with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Berne Convention; [64802]
(2) if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the recent decision of the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats to request the United Kingdom Government to postpone the randomised badger culling trial for one year. [64801]
§ Mr. RookerThe Government are considering the recommendation of the Standing Committee.