Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an assessment was made of the merits of using weight charts rather than an estimate by the Department or an auctioneer when the system by which farmers are compensated for a cow with bovine TB was changed.
Answer
The current arrangements were only introduced after two full, public consultations and, wherever possible, DEFRA reacted to the detailed concerns raised by stakeholders.Various options were considered before a system based on table valuations was developed, but weight charts were not suggested at any time during the consultation process.Basing the level of compensation on an animal’s weight would not be practical. For example, such a system would work against those farmers with young pedigree stock.We are working with stakeholders through the Cattle Compensation Advisory Group, which was set up to monitor the introduction of the new system, to consider whether (and what) system enhancements might be needed.