To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made in identifying pilot sites for the roll-out of badger bovine tuberculosis vaccines. (281357)

The Badger Vaccine Deployment areas have been chosen based on specific criteria, which included a historically high incidence of bovine TB in cattle, and in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England and other key industry and stakeholder groups.

Six catchment areas of 300 km² were identified, drawn from the worst affected areas of Staffordshire (Eccleshall area), Herefordshire and Worcestershire border (North of Bromyard, East of Tenbury Wells), Gloucestershire (Cotswolds, North-east of Cheltenham and North West of Stroud, towards the Severn Valley) and Devon (East and West of Tiverton).

Meetings are being held with key regional representatives and, separately, veterinary practices in each area and DEFRA, with Fera, will be working with local people and looking for participants within these regions to define up to 100 km² to be vaccinated. Regional meetings will be held with farmers in the autumn, with participants sign-up shortly thereafter.