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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Government has paid in compensation to farmers for animals culled in efforts to control bovine tuberculosis since 2010.

The net compensation expenditure paid to farmers for animals culled in efforts to control bovine tuberculosis since 2010 is as follows:

• 2010/11 – £24.3m

• 2011/12 – £23.5m

• 2012/13 – £23.9m

• 2013/14 – £22.6m

• 2014/15 – £20.9m

• 2015/16 – £20.9m