§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered owing to bovine TB in each year since 1997(a) in Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) in Shropshire [123694]
§ Mr. BradshawThe data requested are not available for the parliamentary constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham. However, the number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB measures in Shropshire, from 1997 to 2002, is given in the following table:
Number of cattle slaughtered in Shropshire under bovine TB control measures 1997–20021 Number of cattle slaughtered 1997 28 1998 40 1999 36 2000 221 2001 120 2002 48 1 TB Reactors plus direct contacts. Note:
In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests, which would have had a longer 40W period in which to contract the disease. Also, the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of TB reactors identified and slaughtered in 2002 is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in previous years.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of cattle herds in(a) the south-west region and (b) England and Wales suffered an incidence of bovine TB in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2002. [124314]
§ Mr. BradshawThe table provides information on the incidence of bovine TB in(a) State Veterinary Service (SVS) west region and (b) England and Wales between 1999 and 2002. There is no SVS south-west region, but west region, which includes the counties listed, covers the south-west of England.
Area TB herd incidence 1999–20021 Percentage 1999 2000 2001 x2002 (a) West region 4.04 4.82 5.96 7.35 Avon 2.58 3.70 7.41 5.97 Cornwall 3.67 4.70 5.55 7.97 Devon 2.93 3.49 5.79 5.50 Dorset 2.31 1.18 3.74 4.27 Gloucestershire 8.82 10.85 9.47 14.64 Hereford and Worcester 6.40 7.65 9.17 11.70 Shropshire 0.22 1.72 2.37 3.29 Somerset 2.71 4.35 3.45 4.88 Wiltshire 6.77 5.20 6.02 8.55 (b) England and Wales 2.55 3.14 4.19 4.52 England 2.63 3.29 3.94 4.78 Wales 2.15 2.47 5.10 3.61 1 Confirmed new herd incidents as a percentage of tests on unrestricted herds. Note:
In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests, which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also, the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, herd incidence in 2002 is not comparable to that of previous years.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in respect of the TB Forum; and when it is expected to reach conclusions. [124316]
§ Mr. BradshawThe remit of the TB Forum is 'to consider new measures which might be taken to control TB in cattle'. The Forum is a consultative group, with no formal advisory or decision making role. It is the main vehicle for informing key interest groups on developments on policy in bovine TB and it provides a sounding board for exploring new policy options. The Forum met last on 23 June 2003.
The EFRA Committee in its report on Badgers and Bovine TB, Seventh Report of Session 2002–03, recommended that members of the Forum should reassess what role it should play and that Defra should consider redefining its remit. In its response, published on 24 June 2003, by the Committee as the Eighth Special Report of Session 2002–03, the Government explain that relationships between the Government and 41W stakeholders will be addressed in light of the Animal Health and Welfare Interim Strategy and in the development of a new TB Strategy.