§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs what reasons underlie the change in bovine TB compensation expenditure in Great Britain from 2000–01. [72306]
§ Mr. MorleyExpenditure on TB compensation in GB fell from £7,307,797 in 2000 to £7,074,125 in 2001. The reduction was due to the diversion of resources during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak away from the testing of cattle for TB. Therefore the number of animals identified as TB reactors and slaughtered as a consequence, fell from 6,954 in 2000 to 5,903 in 2001.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reasons underlie the change in expenditure on the bovine TB programme, excluding compensation, in Wales from 1999–2000 to 2000–01. [72305]
§ Mr. MorleyPursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member on 10 July,Official Report, column 948W, expenditure on the State Veterinary Service Bovine TB programme in Wales fell from £1,472,469 in 1999–2000 to £1,240,032 in 2000–01.
SVS expenditure figures include the cost of dealing with reactor herds when new incidents of Bovine TB are identified. The reduction of expenditure between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 can be explained by a lower number of TB incidents in Wales in 2000.