§ Paul FarrellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been obtained to establish a link between badgers and bovine tuberculosis. [86800]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Krebs Review of bovine TB in cattle found compelling evidence that badgers are a significant source of infection for cattle. However, the relative contribution that badgers and other wildlife make to the disease is unknown. The ongoing badger culling field trial was designed by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) to evaluate what role, if any, badgers play in the transmission of bovine TB to cattle, and whether badger culling is an effective or sustainable bovine TB control mechanism. It will provide epidemiological data on the occurrence and prevalence of TB in badgers, its relationship to population density and social group size and the spatial relationship between TB-infected badgers and TB breakdowns in cattle herds.
The ISG have advised that it is too early for a full analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. However, it has been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.