Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will reassess the compensation provided for a cow slaughtered under tuberculosis control measures following the introduction of the new system on 1 February; what mechanism is open to the owner of a cow slaughtered under tuberculosis control measures to appeal against the compensation value assigned to the animal by a valuer appointed by her Department before 1 February; and if she will make a statement.
Answer
The new arrangements for cattle affected by bovine tuberculosis came into force in England on 1 February 2006. In making these changes, the Department's objective is to have in place a system that promotes good industry practice, enhances disease control, addresses the serious (and independently identified) problem of over-compensation, and is fair to both cattle owners and the taxpayer.Under these arrangements, we believe that all farmers effectively gain because they are being compensated for disease affected animals (whose true worth are salvage value only) using a price based on the value of healthy animals.As part of government's ongoing commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders, Defra is setting up a Cattle Compensation Advisory Group involving industry stakeholder representatives. We expect this stakeholder group to help us monitor the new compensation arrangements.Under the previous system of compensation, there was no mechanism for appeal against valuations once a cattle owner and the department had agreed a valuer.