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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Benn confirms TB cull rejection | Benn confirms TB cull rejection |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The government will not issue licences to cull badgers to prevent cattle TB in England, Hilary Benn has confirmed. | The government will not issue licences to cull badgers to prevent cattle TB in England, Hilary Benn has confirmed. |
| In a Commons statement, the environment secretary said that while a large-scale cull could improve the situation, it could also make the problem worse. | In a Commons statement, the environment secretary said that while a large-scale cull could improve the situation, it could also make the problem worse. |
| The National Farmers' Union (NFU) is taking legal advice on the decision, details of which were obtained by BBC News on Friday. | |
| About 4,000 herds were affected by the disease last year. | |
| These were mainly localised to the south-west of England. | |
| Rather than culling, vaccination will form a cornerstone of bovine TB policy, and the government is to invest £20m into research. | Rather than culling, vaccination will form a cornerstone of bovine TB policy, and the government is to invest £20m into research. |
| The government based its decision on advice from the Independent Scientific Group which it established to review research on the issue. | The government based its decision on advice from the Independent Scientific Group which it established to review research on the issue. |
| The ISG concluded that culling would not be an economic solution to the problem, as did the Environment and Rural Affairs select committee. | The ISG concluded that culling would not be an economic solution to the problem, as did the Environment and Rural Affairs select committee. |
| A subsequent analysis led by the government's former chief scientific advisor Sir David King came down in favour of culling. | A subsequent analysis led by the government's former chief scientific advisor Sir David King came down in favour of culling. |
| Better or worse | Better or worse |
| Mr Benn recalled that the UK Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) concluded that proactive culling - attempting to wipe out badgers across large swathes of countryside - reduced disease incidence inside the cull zone, but increased it around the edges of the zone. | Mr Benn recalled that the UK Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) concluded that proactive culling - attempting to wipe out badgers across large swathes of countryside - reduced disease incidence inside the cull zone, but increased it around the edges of the zone. |
| "I have decided that while such a cull might work, it might also not work," he said. | "I have decided that while such a cull might work, it might also not work," he said. |
| "It could end up making the disease worse if it was not sustained over time or delivered effectively." | "It could end up making the disease worse if it was not sustained over time or delivered effectively." |
| Some landowners would be reluctant to allow culling on their land, he acknowledged, making effective delivery of the strategy less likely. | Some landowners would be reluctant to allow culling on their land, he acknowledged, making effective delivery of the strategy less likely. |
| The RBCT concluded that reactive culling - killing badgers in the area around an outbreak that had already been identified - made things worse. | The RBCT concluded that reactive culling - killing badgers in the area around an outbreak that had already been identified - made things worse. |
| "It may not be what people would assume would be the answer to the question, but it is the answer to the question," he said. | "It may not be what people would assume would be the answer to the question, but it is the answer to the question," he said. |
| Spineless | Spineless |
| The environment secretary's decision met with angry reaction from some opposition MPs. | The environment secretary's decision met with angry reaction from some opposition MPs. |
| Geoffrey Cox, Conservative MP for Torridge and Devon West, described it as a "spineless abdication of responsibility". | Geoffrey Cox, Conservative MP for Torridge and Devon West, described it as a "spineless abdication of responsibility". |
| Mr Benn indicated his belief that vaccination - either of badgers or cattle or both - should be an effective strategy as soon as vaccines can be developed. | Mr Benn indicated his belief that vaccination - either of badgers or cattle or both - should be an effective strategy as soon as vaccines can be developed. |
| He also announced the formation of a partnership group to develop strategy, and hoped that industry representatives will join. | He also announced the formation of a partnership group to develop strategy, and hoped that industry representatives will join. |
| Badger Trust spokesman Trevor Lawson suggested that farmers' groups should now work constructively with the partnership. | Badger Trust spokesman Trevor Lawson suggested that farmers' groups should now work constructively with the partnership. |
| "This overwhelming body of sound scientific opinion means that the farming industry can move forwards with the government in tackling bovine TB with improved cattle testing and biosecurity," he said. | "This overwhelming body of sound scientific opinion means that the farming industry can move forwards with the government in tackling bovine TB with improved cattle testing and biosecurity," he said. |
| "We are confident that with proper investment, the government will be able to rapidly reverse the bovine TB problem, bringing relief to farmers and their families." | "We are confident that with proper investment, the government will be able to rapidly reverse the bovine TB problem, bringing relief to farmers and their families." |