Bovine Tuberculosis

HC Deb 17 November 2003 vol 413 cc621-3W

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she will put in place to assist dairy farmers affected by herd breakdowns as a result of bovine tuberculosis. [138028]

Mr. Bradshaw

There are already a number of measures in place to help farmers, including dairy farmers, with herds affected by bovine TB. Compensation is paid at the market rate for all animals slaughtered under TB control measures and in late 2002 we introduced licensed movements of non-reactor cattle on to and off farms under restriction, subject to veterinary risk assessment. In seeking ways to assist farmers dealing with TB, a balance must be struck between reducing the burden on industry and effective disease control.

We have a wide ranging research programme in place which is seeking, amongst other things, to develop a vaccine for TB, to improve diagnosis of the disease and establish how bovine TB is spread. All farmers are likely to benefit from the outcomes of the research. The bovine TB programme is under review and we will be consulting on proposals for a new long-term strategy, and on short term policy options, around the end of the year.

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of cattle which are awaiting tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. [138029]

Mr. Bradshaw

At the end of September 2003 there were just over 3,300 cattle herds awaiting bovine tuberculosis tests. Details of the number of overdue herd tests are published each month on the Defra website at defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/stats/index.htm

The number of individual animals awaiting tests is not available.

Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of(a) the funding for and (b) the number of veterinary surgeons which would be required to ensure there was no waiting list for cattle tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. [138030]

Mr. Bradshaw

In 2002/03 we spent £14 million on TB testing to bring the backlog of 27,000 overdue tests built up during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) under control. We expect to spend in the region of £10.3 million on the testing programme in this financial year.

At the end of September 2003 the number of outstanding herd tests had been reduced to just over 3,300. This is about the same level as that prior to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The rolling nature of the testing programme means that herd tests are falling due all the time and we are therefore unlikely to reduce the overdue list to zero.

We propose to consult on additional testing (pre and post-movement testing and changes to testing frequencies) as part of a short term measures package and are preparing estimates of the veterinary resource input for such proposals.

We recently consulted on proposals to permit suitably trained and competent non-veterinarians to carry out TB tests. Responses are still being analysed. However, there is no intention in the proposal to require local veterinary practices to use lay testers.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what system she has in place to monitor bovine TB factor compensation payments; and whether her Department collates and publishes the results of monitoring. [136411]

Mr. Bradshaw

Bovine TB compensation payments are based on the market value of the animals. The valuations are agreed between the Department and the farmer, or between professional valuers working on behalf of the Department and on behalf of farmers.

A consultation on proposals to rationalise existing compensation arrangements for all notifiable animal diseases is underway. The main aim of that exercise will be to increase transparency and operational simplicity by creating a single approach for all notifiable diseases. In the interim, the Department is considering what can be done to monitor valuers and the level of valuations in recognition of deficiencies in the current system which were highlighted in recent audit reports.

The Department publishes aggregated data on the numbers of stock slaughtered and compensation paid in Great Britain in the annual report of the Chief Veterinary Officer.