§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many badgers killed on the roads have been examined since the start of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs project in this area; and how many animals have been found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis in which regions.[HL301]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)The table below shows the number of badger carcases collected, and post-mortemed, by county as part of the Road Traffic Accident survey, up to 30 November 2004.
County Number of carcases collected Number of carcases post-mortemed Cornwall 607 458 Devon 633 559 Dorset 211 177 Gloucestershire 939 799 Herefordshire 297 234 Shropshire 174 143 Worcestershire 275 227 Total 3,136 2,597 This data was drawn from Defra's Wildlife Unit Badger Trial database on 10 December 2004.
NoteThe Badger Trial database is a new system and reconciliation of data with the previous system is still ongoing. Therefore data provided is provisional and subject to change as a result of this process.
The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB advises that the results of the post-mortem should not be disclosed at present to avoid either encouraging illegal action against badgers or deterring participation in the badger culling trial. However, information on the location of badgers where TB is diagnosed is released to divisional veterinary managers to inform the measures they take with respect to disease control in cattle in the vicinity.
§ Lord Rotherwickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether badger carcasses collected and tested as part of the road traffic accident survey have tested positive or negative for tuberculosis. [HL440]
§ Lord WhittyThe table below shows the number of badger carcases collected, and post-mortemed, by county as part of the Road Traffic Accident survey, up to 30 November 2004.
17WA
County Number of carcases collected Number of carcases post-mortemed Cornwall 607 458 Devon 633 559 Dorset 211 177 Gloucestershire 939 799 Herefordshire 297 234 Shropshire 174 143 Worcestershire 275 227 Total 3136 2597 These data were drawn from Defra's Wildlife Unit Badger Trial database on 10 December 2004.
NoteThe Badger Trial database is a new system and reconciliation of data with the previous system is still ongoing. Therefore data provided is provisional and subject to change as a result of this process.
The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB has advised that the results of the post-mortem should not be disclosed at present to avoid either encouraging illegal action against badgers or deterring participation in the badger culling trial. However, information on the location of badgers where TB is diagnosed is released to divisional veterinary managers to inform the measures they take with respect to disease control in cattle in the vicinity.