TB ERADICATION MUST BE SCIENCE-LED – GEORGE

Andrew George MP

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Commenting on todays release of a Government consultation on proposals to licence farmers to kill badgers in the hope that it will control Bovine TB, Liberal Democrat Agriculture Spokesman, Andrew George MP, said he would support any attempt which didnt run the risk of making the situation worse.

Mr George said:

This is an important consultation. The Coalition Government is committed to a science led approach to the control of Bovine TB.

I am no less sentimental about cattle than I am about badgers. A successful TB control policy will be very good news for both. Failure to control this will continue to result in carnage in our countryside. Thousands of cattle and badgers are losing their lives to this disease. It is having a disastrous effect upon beef and dairy farms.

The Government has floated the option for consultation. The largest wildlife experiment by Government recently concluded that licensing farmers to cull badgers would entail a substantial risk of increasing the incidence of cattle TB and spreading the disease (ISG report para 10.36, Defra 2008).

Bovine TB is a massive challenge for Government and the farming community. We must make sure that we dont succumb to pressure only to make matters worse.