NICK HARVEY LAMBASTS DEFRA OVER BOVINE TB EPIDEMIC
June 20, 2007 12:04 PM
Nick Harvey says:
'Like the rest of the South West, Bovine TB afflicts us here in North Devon. Despite the latest report the Government continues to dither over how to effectively handle the epidemic and waste taxpayers money picking up the pieces. At a cost of £80 million a year this is simply unacceptable.
'Following the publication of the Independent Scientific Group's final Cattle TB report, I share local farmers' and the NFU's sense of mounting frustration. The NFU and many rural MPs are not encouraged by the ISG's key findings and recommendations, in particular badger culling will not help prevent contagion and that the weakness of the testing regime is causing cross-heard infection.
'Nor is the declaration that elimination of infection in high risk areas, such as the South West which is the worst affected is unachievable in anything other than the long term. Likewise annual testing of all high risk areas will increase costs and uncertainty for farmers. While vaccination cannot be seen as a panacea the report does show a lack of commitment to this solution.
'The ISG states that farmers need to take ownership of the problem rather than leaving it to the Government - I feel if that were the case most would have opted for the cull option long ago. Secretary of State, David Miliband responded to the ISG saying: 'We will be considering the issues it raises very carefully and will continue to work with the industry, government advisors and scientific experts in reaching a final policy decision on this serious issue.'
'This smacks of platitudes, the real question is when will the Government make a decision, our farmers cannot be expected to wait another decade. I am adding my voice to the NFUs and intend to express my concerns to David Miliband that the Government's livestock disease control policy has yet to show real focus or indeed produce positive results combating Bovine TB.'
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