Farmers heckle minister to urge badger slaughter

Feb 19 2008 By Emily Beament, The Journal

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Hilary Benn was heckled by farmers yesterday after he pledged to take a decision on preventing TB in cattle, but said the science did not back a badger cull.

Mr Benn told the National Farmers Union annual conference the action would be based on the science,
the impact of the proposed measures, the practicalities and public acceptability.

The Environment Secretary was urged by NFU president Peter Kendall to make the “right decision” on culling badgers to end the spread of the disease and told Mr Benn to show political leadership by explaining to the public the difficulties farmers faced.

As Mr Benn talked about the rising incidence of TB in cattle, one angry farmer shouted that in 10 years of Labour Government “you’ve done b****r-all. Stop waffling”.

Mr Benn said: “I have heard from some farmers whose herds have TB about the difficulties, stress and hardship they face. I accept that levels are too high.” But he said if the issue were easy, it would have been solved a long time ago. He pointed to the 10-year study by the Independent Scientific Group on bovine TB which concluded that a badger cull could not “meaningfully contribute” to control of the disease in cattle.

Mr Benn also reiterated his belief that farmers should share the costs of animal health and welfare and announced plans for the bluetongue strategy for vaccinating sheep and cattle.

He said the Government had paid for the 22.5 million doses of vaccine that are being developed, and farmers will be able to buy the doses to protect their stock.

He also said there would be a review of the science and research being undertaken in the agricultural sector, answering calls from the industry for more investment to allow for increased production and dealing with climate change.

Answering his heckler, Mr Benn said: “I’m not waffling. I’m going to take a decision and we’re going to have to find a way forward.

“I absolutely understand the extent of the impact of the disease, but the
ISG report’s conclusion was badger culling could not meaningfully contribute to the control of the disease.”

He added: “The decision I will
take – and it will be on my watch – on what we are going to do together about it will be based on four things: what the science tells us, what impact the proposed measures would have on the disease, how practical is the solution and what is its public acceptability.”

To boos from the audience, he said: “Many of you don’t think that’s a factor governments should take into account, but I have to take it into account alongside the other three tests.”

Mr Kendall demanded steps to attack all sources of bovine TB.

He said: “Further prevarication can only mean more disease outbreaks, more Government expenditure, more risks to other wildlife, more human and animal suffering and misery and more damage to this country’s reputation over the prevention of animal disease.”

He also said the former chief scientist Sir David King had drawn different conclusions from the 10-year study into whether culling badgers could limit TB in cattle than had the ISG report.