BOVINE TB (No. 2)

Motion Text

That this House notes that bovine tuberculosis in cattle now costs the taxpayer £90 million in compensation to farmers and that 24,000 cattle were slaughtered in England and Wales last year; notes the growing evidence of the link with badgers in the chain of infection and the distressing effect the disease has on both badgers and other wildlife; believes that it is now necessary for a combination of measures to tackle infection by introducing an immediate and focused programme of badger control in known and persistent hotspot areas in the South West of England, a pre- and post-cattle movement tuberculosis testing regime, and enhanced Government support for the research and development of an effective vaccine; and urges the Government to adopt this strategy as soon as possible.