Yes another decision has been made - its been going on for over 2 years now, doubt if this will be the last of it!
Millions of pounds was spent by the government for a scientific report and this was the final conclusion and report to the Government:
INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC GROUP ON CATTLE TB
Chairman: Professor John Bourne CBE MRCVS
Secretary: Mike Summerskill
Area 107, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ
Telephone: 020 7904 6131 FAX: 020 7904 6053
E-mail:
michael.summerskill@defra.gsi.gov.ukThe Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
18 June 2007
Dear Secretary of State,
FINAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC GROUP ON CATTLE TB
I have pleasure in enclosing the final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle
TB (ISG). After nearly a decade’s work, I believe that the ISG has fulfilled its original
objective and can now provide you with a comprehensive picture of TB epidemiology
in cattle and badgers. Further research will doubtless improve the knowledge base, but
I believe that the work described in this Report will allow you to develop future policies
based on sound science.
The ISG’s work – most of which has already been published in peer-reviewed scientific
journals – has reached two key conclusions. First, while badgers are clearly a source of
cattle TB, careful evaluation of our own and others’ data indicates that badger culling can
make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Indeed, some policies under
consideration are likely to make matters worse rather than better. Second, weaknesses in
cattle testing regimes mean that cattle themselves contribute significantly to the persistence
and spread of disease in all areas where TB occurs, and in some parts of Britain are likely
to be the main source of infection. Scientific findings indicate that the rising incidence of
disease can be reversed, and geographical spread contained, by the rigid application of
cattle-based control measures alone.
Our Report provides advice on the need for Defra to develop disease control strategies, based
on scientific findings. Implementation of such strategies will require Defra to institute more
effective operational structures, and the farming and veterinary communities to accept the
scientific findings. If this can be achieved, the ISG is confident that the measures outlined
in this Report will greatly improve TB control in Britain.
The ISG remains grateful to you and your colleagues for your continued support and
encouragement to see our work brought to a successful conclusion.
Yours sincerely,
F J BOURNE
Unfortunately the controversial Mr King was just asked his opinion and he gave it as a need for badger culling, he seemed to only take evidence from the biased farmers, and so it all started once more. He then promptly retired!
Thank you to those who did send emails.
moxxx