Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Monday, 1 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 July 2002. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 July 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, how many cattle were slaughtered after a positive TB test in each year since 1997. - Including table.

Answer: Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered after a positive TB test in each year since 1997. [66805] Mr. Morley: The number of animals compulsorily slaughtered as TB reactors or as direct contacts is given in the table. Number of cattle compulsorily slaughtered as TB reactors or contacts in Great Britain _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number of animals slaughtered TB reactors{ 1} Contacts{ 2} Total{ 3} 1997 3,213 456 3,669 1998 4,958 926 5,884 1999{4} 5,910 862 6,772 2000{4} 7,031 1,322 8,353 2001{4} 5,347 904 6,251 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Animals which gave a positive result (i.e. reacted) to the tuberculin test and were compulsorily slaughtered. {2} Animals which, under the terms of Directive 64/432 as amended, were considered to have been direct contacts exposed to TB and therefore compulsorily slaughtered. {3} Animals compulsorily slaughtered because they reacted to the tuberculin test of because they were considered to be direct contacts. Not all the animals will necessarily be confirmed as being infected with Mycobacterium bovis. {4} Provisional: data for 1999 onwards will remain provisional until all culture results are available and final data validation carried out. Source: DEFRA's Animal Health Database

Secondary information