Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 13 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 February 2006. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Badgers

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research is being undertaken to evaluate the various means of gassing badgers; and what assessment her Department has made of the minimum time period required before a strategic culling of badgers by gassing could be implemented.
Answer

We are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy. No decisions have yet been made.However, a review undertaken for the consultation (http://defraweb/corporate/consult/badgers-tbcontrols/index.htm) identified sett-based fumigation, using carbon monoxide (CO) gas, as a possible feasible and humane technique. The main issue in relation to humaneness and effectiveness is that lethal concentrations of CO gas will be attained quickly throughout most parts of any sett. If that can be achieved then concerns .about sub-lethal dosing, either with CO or other contaminants in the exhaust gases, will be reduced because toxic concentrations of gas will kill quickly. Work is currently underway to assess this.While some early results from this work should be available by the end of March, the delivery of the full report, with any recommendations for future work, should be ready by May 2006. If the model is validated then this will allow us to predict the risks and effectiveness of different strategies. If the model proposed in the consultation is not validated then the data from the field trials will allow determination of whether using a suitable, de-tuned, vehicle petrol engine is a viable method of producing lethal concentrations under specific circumstances. If the trial work demonstrates that lethal concentrations can be achieved through most of a sett, then there may be confidence in gassing as a technique for killing badgers during 2006. However, further work is very likely to be needed to ensure, efficient and safe mechanisms for delivery of gas. Data supporting the use of CO will also need to be submitted for approval as a vertebrate control agent. The earliest it is foreseen that this further research work could be completed would be March to May 2007.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
443 c262W;443 c262-3W; 52615
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Badgers Disease control Bovine tuberculosis Gases
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk