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Badger killing delayed

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told MPs that culling was originally delayed by the Olympics and legal proceedings, and now by bad weather and the news that there were more badgers in the cull areas than previously estimated. As a result, farmers could not be confident they could cull enough badgers this year and two pilot culls that were due to start imminently will now take place next summer. Mr Paterson insisted the Government remained absolutely committed to the policy of culling, which he said he was "utterly convinced" was the right thing to do.