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Written Answers
30th June 2005
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Bovine TB
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle have been infected with bovine TB in each of the last three years in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset; and how many cattle were destroyed during the foot and mouth epidemic in each county. [5964]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 21 June 2005]: If an animal reacts positively to the skin test it is generally considered to have bovine TB. However, it is not always possible to confirm infection in any particular animal by post-mortem examination at the slaughterhouse, or by culturing Mycobacterium bovis in the laboratory. This is because in the early stages of the disease, it is not always possible to see lesions with the naked eye, and, due to the fastidious nature of the organism, it is not possible to culture from samples in every case.
Therefore, the number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures in the four counties requested in the last three years is provided as follows:
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon | 3,022 | 3,657 | 4,674 |
| Cornwall | 2,917 | 2,414 | 2,351 |
| Somerset | 9,07 | 1,033 | 928 |
| Dorset | 3,83 | 399 | 408 |
The number of cattle destroyed as a result of foot and mouth in each of the counties is as follows:
| Devon | 3,267 |
| Cornwall | 3,310 |
| Somerset | 992 |
| Dorset | 445 |
Notes:
1.The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures comprises the number of reactors to the TB test and those cattle that have been in direct contact.
2.TB data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005.
3.All data are provisional and subject to change as more data become available.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in the South West have been affected by bovine TB in each of the last three years; how many cattle in England have been slaughtered due to bovine TB in each year; how much was paid by the Government to farmers in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset in compensation for bovine TB in each of the last three years; what steps she has taken to eradicate TB in cattle; and what steps she is proposing to take. [6264]
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Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 22 June 2005]: The information requested is as follows:
Number of farms affected by TB and the cattle slaughtered
The number of holdings affected by bovine TB breakdowns in each of the last three years, as well as the number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures in England between 2001 and 2004 are detailed in the following tables.
(22)Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 22 June 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.
| Year(23) | Cattle slaughtered(24) |
|---|---|
| 2001(25) | 4,284 |
| 2002(25) | 17,851 |
| 2003 | 17,096 |
| 2004 | 16,955 |
(23)TB Reactors plus Direct Contacts
(24)Data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.
(25)In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable with other years.
The amount of compensation for Bovine TB paid to farmers in the four counties is not collected/available in the format requested, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The amount of compensation paid in Great Britain over the last three years is detailed in the following table.
| Financial year | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 9.2 |
| 2002–03 | 31.9 |
| 2003–04 | 34.4 |
| 2004–05 | (26)35.0 |
(26)Forecast.
The Government are committed to finding the best way to combat bovine TB, backed by available scientific evidence and taking account of all interested parties, including the taxpayer. We published our 10-year strategy for the control of bovine TB in March. This places emphasis on keeping clean areas clean and achieving a sustained and steady reduction of TB in hotspot areas. Specific disease control policies will be
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tailored to reflect the control of bovine TB in March. This places emphasis on keeping clean areas clean and achieving a sustained and steady reduction of TB in hotspot areas. Specific disease control policies will be tailored to reflect the regional variation in disease and risk, and adjusted to make best use of emerging scientific findings.
We are prepared to cull badgers to control bovine TB if evidence shows it is cost-effective, practicable and sustainable. The strategic framework sets out a process for decision-making on badger culling. However, vaccination for cattle or badgers is still a long-term goal and we have recently approved the first field trial of a TB vaccine for badgers and a new study by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to prepare for similar field trials in cattle.
British Waterways (Surplus Land)
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that British Waterways make available surplus land at less than market value for development of affordable housing. [7136]
Jim Knight: The Department looks to British Waterways to provide affordable housing in its developments as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility. The amount is determined by local planning requirements and individual circumstances. As at 31 March 2005, 1,998 units of social housing are planned to be built on BW development sites.
Consultants
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants. [7021]
Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) on 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.
Departmental Relocation
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her Department's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East. [6255]
Jim Knight: The Department is implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate 390 posts out of London and the South East by 2010. This will not exclude consideration of relocating some posts to relatively deprived areas in the South East. So far, the Department has not identified any posts suitable for transfer to deprived areas in the South East.
Emissions Trading Scheme
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the level of penalties that will have been collected after year one of the EU emissions trading scheme. [8608]
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Mr. Morley: All operators of installations that do not surrender sufficient allowances to cover their annual emissions will be liable to a penalty. In the first phase of the scheme (2005–07), the penalty will be €40 for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted by that installation for which the operator has not surrendered allowances. The penalty will rise to €100 per tonne for the second phase. The extent of the penalties for year one of the scheme will only be known after 20 April 2006, once reconciliation has taken place. We expect all installations will comply with the regulations.
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