Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if he will estimate the potential cost of testing cows for tuberculosis before culling them; and if he will make a statement;
[130779]
Answer
In 2009-10 the TB cattle testing programme in England cost the Government around £30 million. Nearly all of the cattle slaughtered for TB control reasons have reacted positively to a fully validated diagnostic test. In some circumstances cattle identified as being at higher risk will be slaughtered with the owner's agreement.