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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to expedite the transition from culling badgers to vaccinating cattle to reduce the spread of bovine TB; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure an evidence-based and scientifically-reliable approach to counteract the risk posed to cattle by bovine TB.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton on 28 October 2021, PQ UIN 62790.

As set out in the Government’s strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free status for England[1], the Government continues to develop approaches to deliver the Strategy based on the best available evidence, scientific advice and veterinary advice. The term ‘evidence’ encompasses material from multi-disciplinary science research, statistics, economics, social or operational research and geographical information.

[1] www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-strategy-for-achieving-officially-bovine-tuberculosis-free-status-for-england