To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the farming industry of the number of cattle slaughtered as a result of infection with bovine tuberculosis in (a) 2009, (b) 2008, (c) 2007 and (d) 2006. (280028)

[holding answer 15 June 2009]: The cost impacts of bovine tuberculosis (TB) on farm businesses will vary, though we know that for some farmers these costs will be serious. We have made no specific estimates of the effects of the cost to the farming industry of cattle slaughtered as a result of infection with bovine TB.

The Bovine TB Eradication Group have recently discussed ideas to enable farmers affected by bovine TB to maintain their farm businesses, including enhancing trading opportunities for TB restricted herds and options for support for individual farmers.