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Paice defends badger cull plans in fiery debate

FARMERS GUARDIAN
18 October 2011 | By Alistair Driver

FARMING Minister Jim Paice has defended Government plans for a badger cull in the face of fierce criticism of the proposed policy from Opposition MPs.

MPs repeatedly clashed over the scientific justification and humaneness of the proposed cull in England during a heated debate in the House of Commons today (Tuesday, October 18).

Labour MP Mary Glindon, who led the debate, claimed the policy was not backed by the evidence.

She argued that the proposed cull ‘deviated’ from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) in that it would be a farmer-led cull using ‘free shooting’, rather than a Government-led cull using cages.

She warned that this ‘random’ shooting could leave badgers wounded and repeated concerns voiced by Natural England that farmers would be unable to deliver the cull in line with the specified criteria.

She also quoted the concerns of scientists who have studies the subject, including Sir John Krebs who instigated the RBCT, who have said the cull would only deliver limited benefits and could make matter worse, if not done properly.

“The information I have read from the Defra website and other publications insist that the science as accepted by the former Labour Government was right and remains so,” Mrs Glindon said.

Her arguments were echoed by a number of Labour MPs, including Shadow Farming Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who warned farmers were being ‘sold a very expensive, incontinent, unruly pup who could do a whole lot more damage than good’.

Mr Paice said science behind badger culling has been agreed by a group of ‘eminent’ scientists, including Lord Krebs and other critics of the policy, who accept that, on average, it will result in a 16 per cent drop in bovine TB levels in cattle.

“There should be no dispute on the science,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that the Government proposals for ‘controlled shooting’ varied form the RBCT and that some scientists feared the policy might not be as effective as a result.

But he added: “That is why we are having two pilots… to establish whether it is effective, ie whether we can cull 70 per cent of badgers over six weeks, and whether it is humane.”

Mr Paice said there will be monitors on site watching badgers being shot and that badgers will be post-mortemed to ensure culling is being done properly.

Under the plans, badgers will be attracted to a safe baited area and shot by skilled, qualified marksmen trained by external bodies, he added.

He said the policy had been designed to ensure it delivered maximum benefits, for example, specifying minimum cull area size, requiring at least 70 per cent of badgers to be removed and ensuring steps are taken to minimise badger perturbation.

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