HL Deb 25 April 2002 vol 634 cc56-7WA
Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they are doing to eradicate bovine tuberculosis. [HL3870]

Lord Whitty

Resources are currently being targeted at the backlog of tuberculosis tests in cattle, following suspension of routine testing during the foot and mouth outbreak. Those herds which have been identified as posing the greatest risk are being prioritised on the basis of a veterinary risk assessment.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a vaccine for bovine tuberculosis. [HL3871]

Lord Whitty

There is at present no practical vaccine against bovine tuberculosis. The Government are funding research at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Institute of Animal Health to identify vaccine candidates for use in cattle and badgers but this is unlikley to deliver results in the short term.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether badgers are infecting cattle with bovine they are doing about it. [HL3872]

Lord Whitty

The Government have put in place a wide-ranging research programme better to understand the dynamics of cattle TB. An element of this programme is the field trial recommended in the Krebs report of 1997 to determine, once and for all, the role of badgers in cattle TB and whether culling them is an effective way of controlling the disease. The results of the trial are expected by end 2004 or early 2005.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they are doing to protect badgers from bovine tuberculosis. [HL3873]

Lord Whitty

The Government are funding a wide-ranging research programme into bovine TB which includes identifying vaccine candidates for use in badgers. The programme also covers the badger field trial which is designed not only to determine the role of badgers in cattle TB but also to provide epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of TB in badgers and its relation to badger population density and social group size. This work will help to ensure that future control policies are based on sound science and that healthy cattle and badgers can live side by side.