§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the negotiations between the Government and outside contractors regarding the backlog of cattle TB testing. [73731]
§ Mr. MorleyTB testing is carried out by the State Veterinary Service (including Local Veterinary Inspectors); there are no plans to change these arrangements. Contractors are being employed to help with the survey of badgers killed in road traffic accidents and negotiations are continuing with contractors over reducing the backlog in "TB99" epidemiological questionnaires.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the total cost has been of Bovine TB testing delays to farmers. [73837]
§ Mr. MorleyA formal assessment of the cost to the farming industry of the delays in testing for bovine TB has not been carried out.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to pay more than market value for cattle compulsorily slaughtered under TB control measures. [73733]
§ Mr. MorleyThere are no plans to pay more than the market value for cattle compulsorily slaughtered under TB control measures.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost analysis has been undertaken to assess how much the delays in testing for Bovine TB have cost the farming industry. [73840]
§ Mr. MorleyA formal assessment of the cost to the farming industry of the delays in testing for bovine TB has not been carried out.