HC Deb 15 January 2004 vol 416 c828W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into illegal culling activity in TB hot spot areas. [148304]

Mr. Bradshaw

As part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, a proportion of setts within the survey only treatment areas are regularly checked for evidence of illegal activity, including badger digging and other signs of unauthorised culling or interference.

There is currently no Defra commissioned research on illegal culling outside of the badger culling trial areas.