§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the change in the prevalence of bovine TB is in areas where badger culling schemes(a) have and (b) have not taken place; and if he will make a statement. [145782]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 16 January 2001]: The Government's cattle TB strategy includes a badger culling trial which is designed to establish whether culling badgers reduces the incidence of TB in cattle. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), which is overseeing the trial, has advised the Government that 411W disclosing the number and location of cattle breakdowns in trial areas could compromise the scientific integrity of the trial before it is completed. The Government have accepted this advice. When robust results are available from the trial, they will be made publicly available.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the level of TB among badgers in(a) Wales and (b) other parts of the United Kingdom. [145779]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 16 January 2001]: There is no reliable means of testing for bovine TB in live badgers but broad estimates of disease levels can be made from post-mortem examination of badgers killed on roads. The most recent information available from this source is as follows:
Area Wales1 England1 Scotland1 Northern Ireland2 Carcases examined 71 1,174 0 216 Of which: TB positive 13 133 0 31 1 1998 figures, the most recent year for which 12 months' data are available 2 Figures for 1 December 1998 to date Equivalent data for England and Wales for the period 1972 to 1996 can be found in the Krebs Report, Appendix 11, p170.
The trials currently in progress will provide additional data on the prevalence of TB in badger populations in trial areas.