Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Bovine TB Strategy Review committee chaired by Sir Charles Godfray will include a review of badger culling; and what the timetable is for that committee to report.

The published terms of reference set out that badger culling is within the scope of the Bovine TB strategy review. They explain that this is not narrowly a review of culling alone, but of the whole strategy, of which culling is just one part. The review is forward looking and will consider what steps can be taken to improve, enhance or accelerate interventions to achieve the eradication of bovine TB.

The review is expected to conclude by the end of September 2018. The findings will be submitted to Defra Ministers for consideration and a final report published in due course.

Further details on the review can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-strategy-for-achieving-bovine-tuberculosis-free-status-for-england-2018-review.