Tackling Bovine TB

12.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

Colin Breed continues to campaign for more to be done to tackle the spread of bovine TB in the South West. On two occasions this year, Colin has called on the Government to do more to tackle the problem, which shows no signs of abating.

In January, Colin spoke to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn. In departmental questions, he told the Secretary of State that "farmers in the South West were in despair at the lack of action by the Government over the last ten years", pointing out that "farmers had had tens of thousands of their animals slaughtered and at this rate of progress there would soon be more badgers in the South West than cows." The Secretary of State responded that he must take into account all scientific evidence as well as public opinion, but said he would come to a decision.

This was followed, after weeks of inaction, by a question to the Prime Minister on Wednesday 7th May. He asked Mr Brown whether he was aware that "unless his Government tackle the scourge of bovine TB soon, there will be little or no livestock industry left in the south-west of England?". He replied that the Government were still investigating all possible solutions.