APPENDIX 15
Memorandum submitted by the Society for
the Eradication of Tuberculosis Transmission (SETT) (P15)
TOUGH ON TB AND TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF TB
BACKGROUND
SETT was established in June 1997 by farmers
in the South West of England and North Staffordshire following
New Labour's General Election victory. Prior to the formation
of SETT the SW England representatives were invited to make a
submission to the then "John Krebs" investigation prior
to the publication of the Krebs Report.
Briefly all SETT members somewhat realistically
believe that bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is transmitted from badger
to badger, badger to cattle, cattle to cattle and cattle to badger
whilst organisations such as the NFBG do not!
SETT members also believe that the Trials are
largely a waste of time and money and are scientifically speaking—fundamentally
flawed.
Committee members will be all too aware of the
arguments put forward by both sides and therefore these arguments
will be left to others to repeat.
However—the Committee must understand
the current "political" position in which the New Labour
Government finds itself if it is to justify any of its efforts
to help resolve the bTB debacle.
SETT'S GENERAL
APPRAISAL
The New Labour government is not trusted by
the farming/countryside sector; it is seen as anti-rural and the
perception is that not one New Labour MP knows anything about
the countryside and generally New Labour couldn't care less about
the countryside and its inhabitants. It appears that it has absolutely
no one arguing the case for "things country". New Labour's
legislation appears to be slowly but surely "culturally cleansing"
the British countryside—with issues such as the right to
roam, foot and mouth, severe animal movement restrictions with
absolutely minimal border controls on illegal imported meat, bovine
tuberculosis (inc the current Saltdean cock-up), hunting, etc.
New Labour is also seen to be in hock to the "animal rights"
folk with substantial donations and even Elliot Morley is on record
(BBC) as saying that he hopes he is not in office when the results
of the Krebs Trials are published!
Specifically on bTB—farming/countryfolk
witness the badger population growing exponentially and bTB along
with it—cattle are put down, movements restricted but the
most likely source (badger) is left alone to unwittingly carry
on its carnage of cattle with the resultant catastrophic financial/economic
impact on both farmers and nation.
On Exmoor—sick deer that would normally
be quickly hunted down are allowed to continue their pathetically
sick lives in a LACS sanctuary—to contract bTB and recycle
the disease throughout the locality—fact!
THE WAY
FORWARD
The Government and more specifically DEFRA ministers
fundamentally do not understand the countryside and even appears
to be positively anti. The short- to medium-term solution to the
bTB time bomb is not scientific—it is political! It requires
a leadership that New Labour currently appears incapable of giving.
The problem is not confined to just bTB—it is the way we
manage the total flora and fauna of the countryside.
We cannot allow the population of animals with
no natural predators to go unchecked. Even otters are today being
"blamed" for killing too many mink!
THE PROPOSAL
So—what's the solution? What's the radical
proposal? What's the way forward? What must be done and how do
we go about it?
Simple!!
Publish the findings of the Trials to date—let
the public debate commence. Preferably—Abandon the Trials.
Establish (through legislation) Local Wildlife Management Committees
populated with all stakeholders including the local hunts, farmer
representatives (NFU?), RSPCA, NFBG, etc, depending on the nature
of the locality.
The local hunts would be licensed to hunt fox,
deer etc as appropriate and also to trap and kill badgers as appropriate
with "pro-badger" stakeholders participating in the
monitoring and decision-making process on the understanding that
badger bTB hotspot areas must be addressed—likewise local
fox, deer, etc populations.
This proposed solution would undoubtedly work
and the Government would be seen to be leading, compromising with
all parties, ensuring participation by all parties, etc.
Certainly the cost-effectiveness of this proposal
is overwhelming—it will save many, many millions—each
and every year hereafter—The Treasury would love it!
Will the government do the right thing? Will
it bite the bullet? Will it get real?
SETT doesn't think so! The genetic issue-fudging,
indecisive, weak-kneed behaviour of consecutive governments will
continue; the red hot anger of British country folk will boil
over; the ever-widening chasm that lies between urban and rural
folk will become deeper and progressively incapable of bridging.
The time is NOW for politicians to stop talking
and do something positive that scientists currently are incapable
of solving.
30 January 2003
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