Letter dated 29 October 2007, from Sir
David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head
of the Government Office for Science
BADGERS AND
TB IN CATTLE
Thank you for giving me the opportunity yesterday
to talk to the EFRA Select Committee about my report on badgers
and TB in cattle.
My office contacted John Bourne on Thursday
and repeated my offer of a meeting to discuss those areas of difference
between our two reports. However, as was apparent at the session,
I think we are broadly in agreement on the interpretation of the
scientific evidence.
During the session, you asked me when David
Miliband had asked me to carry out my assessment and I replied
that I thought that it was in the week following the publication
of the ISG's final report (on 18 June 2007). However, I have now
checked the sequence of events and find that, although detailed
discussions about the issues to be covered took place in that
week, initial discussions had begun earlier. On 31 May, David
Miliband noted that following the ISG's final report, it would
be important to have an assessment from me of any scientific issues
relating to the role that badger culling could play in controlling
and reducing levels of cattle TB in England. On 11 June I confirmed
that, once the ISG report was received, I would carry out a short
assessment of the key scientific issues in this area. Formal terms
of reference were not established although discussions about the
broad scope began on 4 June.
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