Memorandum submitted by Cornwall Badger
Group (BTB 22)
1. Eminent scientists including the governments
own Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) and Defra's
Science Advisory Council (SAC) have already questioned the content
of the "Consultation on controlling the spread of bovine
tuberculosis in cattle in high incidence areas in England: badger
culling".
2. DEFRA claim that this "aims to explain
the issues and involve the wider public in the process to decide
whether or not to cull badgers . . ."
3. But just how public is this process?
DEFRA have confirmed to me that there was an announcement in Parliament
followed by a press release, but subsequently they have relied
on media response and the efforts of charities and individuals
to facilitate public participation. There seems to have been no
effort by DEFRA to explain that we can have our say either by
writing to: Bovine TB and Badgers Consultation, Defra, 1a Page
Street, London SW1 4PQ; or (preferably) by e-mailing: bTB.consultation@defra.
gsi.gov.uk—before 10 March closing date.
4. Perhaps Defra's political masters, including
Margaret Becket and Ben Bradshaw, could explain why so little
effort seems to have been made to involve the public in this unique
opportunity to express their feelings?
5. And perhaps Tony Blair, whose government
seems so keen on "public consultation" could explain
why no systems have been set up nationally to simplify our participation
by, for example, providing an interactive website such has been
done privately at www.stopthecull.info for the current
DEFRA consultation?
February 2006
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