HC Deb 04 June 2003 vol 406 cc407-8W
Mr. Martlew

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of bovine TB there have been in Cumbria in each of the last five years. [116174]

Mr. Morley

The number of new bovine TB herd incidents in Cumbria 1998–2002 is given in the following table.

New Herd Incidents in Cumbria 1998–2002
Year Number
1998 8
1999 9
2000 4
2001 2
2002 33

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 heards being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of new herd incidents in 2002 is not comparable to that of previous years.

David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence was of bovine tuberculosis(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England in the last five years for which figures are available. [116762]

Mr. Morley

The data requested is not available for(a) Haltemprice and Howden or (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire. However, the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in Humberside and England, from 1998 to 2001, is given in the following table

TB Herd incidence 1998–20021
(percentages)
Year Humberside England
1998 0.00 2.43
1999 0.00 2.63
TB Herd incidence 1998–20021
(percentages)
Year Humberside England
2000 0.00 3.29
2001 0.00 3.94
2002 0.37 4.78
1Confirmed 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.

David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered in the last five years in(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and wales as part of the campaign against teberculosis. [116762]

Mr. Morley

The data requested is not available for(a) Haltemprice and Howden or (b)the East Riding of Yorkshire. However, the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in Humberside and England, from 1998 to 2002, is given in the following table.

Number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures 1998–20021
Humberside England and Wales
1998 1 5,788
1999 1 6,708
2000 5 8,295
2001 4 22,682
1TB 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 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.