BADGER CULLING

Early day motion 1731, tabled 19 June 2007 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House welcomes the assurance by Professor John Bourne that badger culling will have no impact on reducing the spread of bovine tuberculosis; notes that the virtual extermination of badgers in the Republic of Ireland has failed to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis, which is currently twice as high as in the UK; notes that British areas where badgers have been culled show a four fold increase in cases; and believes that the £80 million paid to farmers in free insurance for cattle destroyed in 2006 should be phased out to encourage farmers to accept responsibility and to restrict non-essential animal movements, which are the principal cause of cattle to cattle infections.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 3, Conservative 1.