Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 November 2002. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her reasons for issuing a licence for the removal and slaughter of badgers at Saltdean, East Sussex. - (Holding answer 21 October 2002).

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her reasons for issuing a licence for the removal and slaughter of badgers at Saltdean, East Sussex. [74909] Margaret Beckett: [holding answer 21 October 2002]: Defra received an application for a licence under Section 10 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, to prevent badgers causing serious damage to property. We investigated the case extremely carefully, and considered the full range of options for addressing the problem. In addition to this, we sought to involve groups associated with animal welfare issues, even though the Act does not oblige us to do so. The decision to grant a licence for the humane dispatch of the badgers was taken with great reluctance, only after it appeared that all other avenues had been exhausted and in the exceptional circumstances of this case. In dealing with any licence applications we always seek to avoid the need to harm badgers. This was an extreme case where no other option had been identified. On October 14 trapping work was suspended to allow local interest groups and residents to have a further opportunity to come to a suitable arrangement.

Secondary information