To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle slaughtered under the TB eradication scheme in each of the last three years were subsequently found on post mortem not to be infected and their carcasses sold into the food chain; and what the financial proceeds were of those sales in each year. (82486)

[holding answer 4 July 2006]: The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures, and their confirmation status, is set out in the following table:

Failure to confirm the disease by post-mortem examination at the slaughterhouse, or by culturing Mycobacterium bovis in the laboratory, does not mean that the disease was not present in the animal, or that the animal had not been in contact with bovine TB. In the early stages of the disease, it is not always possible to see lesions with the naked eye, and, owing to the fastidious nature of the organism, it is not possible to culture from samples in every case.

Carcasses and their associated offal are inspected by the Meat Hygiene Service at slaughter and those with signs of generalised infection are fully condemned and declared unfit for human consumption. When localised TB lesions are found in more than one organ or area of a carcass the whole carcass is condemned. Those carcasses with lesions in a single organ or part of the carcass and associated lymph nodes are only passed fit for human consumption once the affected part of the carcass has been cut out and condemned. If no TB lesions are found, the carcass is passed fit for human consumption. If any M. bovis organisms remain these will be killed by thorough cooking of the meat.

Figures for financial proceeds are not available for unconfirmed cattle. However, figures for the financial proceeds from all cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures are set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an assessment was made of the merits of using weight charts rather than an estimate by the Department or an auctioneer when the system by which farmers are compensated for a cow with bovine TB was changed. (83070)

The current arrangements were only introduced after two full, public consultations and, wherever possible, DEFRA reacted to the detailed concerns raised by stakeholders.

Various options were considered before a system based on table valuations was developed, but weight charts were not suggested at any time during the consultation process.

Basing the level of compensation on an animal’s weight would not be practical. For example, such a system would work against those farmers with young pedigree stock.

We are working with stakeholders through the Cattle Compensation Advisory Group, which was set up to monitor the introduction of the new system, to consider whether (and what) system enhancements might be needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outbreaks of bovine TB in cattle there were in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. (83271)

There were 1,562 new herd TB incidents between January and May 2006¹. This indicates a real and substantial reduction in the number of new incidents when compared to the same period in 2005 (1,959).

Given the cyclical nature of the disease, it is too early to draw any conclusions about whether the decrease is a temporary or a more sustained reduction. However, we consider the decrease to be an important and welcome development, and we are working hard to determine its cause. It is likely to be the result of a complex combination of factors, which may take some time to analyse.

¹ Data from DEFRA’s Animal Health Database (Vetnet). Provisional statistics, subject to change as more data becomes available.