Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 December 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 11 December 2003 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, what estimate she has made of the incidence of TB in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in England during (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Answer: Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the incidence of TB in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in England during (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005. [142469] Mr. Bradshaw: It is only possible to make estimates of the incidence of bovine TB in cattle based on previous years. Unfortunately, data for both 2002 and 2001 cannot be easily compared to earlier years. This is because, in 2001, TB testing was largely suspended during the foot and mouth disease outbreak, and in 2002 much of the testing effort was aimed at high-risk herds and those with overdue tests. Nevertheless, early indications suggest that the reduced levels of testing in 2001 have not substantially altered the underlying historical trend of confirmed TB incidents in cattle, which continues to rise at a yearly average rate of about 18 per cent. for new herd incidents. No estimates have been made regarding the incidence of TB in badgers.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 142469; 415 c540-1W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Badgers Cattle Diseases Disease control Livestock Wildlife Testing Bovine tuberculosis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk