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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact of the badger cull on the long-term viability and health of badger populations, and (2) the findings of Rogerson et al, in Absence of effects of widespread badger culling on tuberculosis in cattle, published in Scientific Reports on 15 July; and whether it plans to stop this cull.

The Government is currently studying the existing information surrounding the long-term viability and health of badger populations and considering commissioning research to fill any information gaps. It is important to this Government that any policy is informed by adequate scientific research and information.

We are currently considering the findings of the published Torgerson et al paper, which is a reanalysis of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial carried out in the 2000s.

The Government included a commitment in their election manifesto to work with farmers and scientists towards a package that can create bovine TB free status, including rolling out vaccinations, herd management and biosecurity to protect farmers' livelihoods. This Government will end badger culling.

More details of the Government’s approach to tackle bovine TB and to end badger culling will be set out in due course.