§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much money they have spent and are planning to spend in the immediate future on killing badgers. [HL2616]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)The Government's research strategy for cattle TB includes a badger culling trial designed to establish what contribution badgers make to TB in cattle and to assess whether culling them helps to reduce the disease in cattle. The costs associated with the trial, including extensive surveying of badger territories, along with vehicles, office accommodation and other overheads were £4.2 million in 1999–2000. Final allocations for the current year have yet to he decided.