§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the final draft of the second report of the Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB will be published. [125172]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 June 2000]The report was published on 7 February this year and copies were placed in the Library of the House, as set out in the reply, 7 February 2000,Official Report, column 80W.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what proportion of badgers trapped and killed in the TB trial in Wiltshire, in May, were lactating females; and if he will make a statement. [125258]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 June 2000]Of the badgers trapped and killed in the recent trial operations in Wiltshire, 35 (5.8 per cent.) were lactating females.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what resources have been allocated(a) within the public sector and (b) as grants to private sector research for the development of a prophylactic bovine TB treatment. [125175]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 June 2000]We are spending about £1.4 million a year on developing a vaccine against bovine TB. Research at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency accounts for approximately 70 per cent. of this expenditure; work at the Institute of Animal Health, Compton, accounts for the rest. This research also draws on significant amounts of work being undertaken in related fields internationally.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what risk analysis has been carried out on(a) the provision of a prophylactic bovine TB treatment and (b) the proposals advanced by the Krebs/Bourne Study. [125177]
458W
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 June 2000]Risk assessments on TB vaccines will be carried out as part of the normal regulatory process if and when suitable candidate vaccines have been developed. Proposals which emerge from the epidemiological investigation into TB in cattle being undertaken by Professor Bourne's Independent Scientific Group will be assessed against a range of factors including the impact on public health, on animal health and welfare, on the environment and on the economy.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the intended timescale for making publicly available information arising from an audit assessing the effectiveness of the surveying and social group delineation of badger culling. [125257]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 June 2000]We intend to publish the report, together with the Government's response, as soon as possible after the final report is received from the independent auditor. On current expectations, this will he during the summer.