asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money was allocated to research into a tuberculosis vaccine for cattle and badgers in 1997–2007; and[HL4821]

Further to the Statement by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 July (Official Report, Commons, cols. 1153–55), whether research into a tuberculosis vaccine for cattle and badgers will be financed from existing animal health budgets; and [HL4822]

Whether research into a bovine tuberculosis vaccine for cattle and badgers is being undertaken only by government research centres, or whether private companies are undertaking such research. [HL4823]

Significant funding for bovine tuberculosis vaccines research commenced in 1998 following the Krebs report. Total investment since 1998 in vaccine development reached more than £17.8 million by the end of March 2008 and over £5.5 million was invested in cattle and badger vaccine research in the last financial year (2007-08).

This breaks down into spending of just under £11 million on cattle vaccine development and just under £7 million on badger vaccine development over the past 10 years.

Of the £20 million identified as funding for vaccine research by the Secretary of State, £10.4 million has already been contracted from the existing tuberculosis programme research budgets. The remaining £9.6 million has not yet been contracted and will be funded from an expanded research budget.

Research into a bovine tuberculosis vaccine for cattle and badgers is carried out on behalf of the department by its laboratory agencies, research council institutes, universities and the private sector.