new to the flock Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn culls badger talk AnimalNet, Farmers Weekly Interactive Philip Clarke DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has, according to this story, dampened hopes that a widespread badger cull could be imminent, insisting that winning public acceptability is crucial to any policy to control bovine tuberculosis. In his speech to the NFU Centenary Conference on Monday (18 February) Mr Benn said he fully understood "the difficulties, stress and financial hardship" faced by farmers whose herds had bTB. He would therefore be taking a decision on a new policy to deal with the problem soon after the cross-party Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee concludes its report on the subject in the next few weeks. "The decision I will take - and it will be on my watch - will be based on four things," he was quoted as saying, adding, "One, what the science tells us, two, what impact the proposed measures would have on the disease, three, how practical it is and four, what is its public acceptability." This last comment drew boos from the assembled delegates, and one NFU member heckled the secretary of state, accusing him of waffling and the Labour government of dithering over bTB for over 10 years. Mr Benn rejected this, saying he had to take public acceptability into account alongside the other three. He also said the government was very mindful of the findings of the Independent Scientific Group which had showed that badger culling would not meaningfully contribute to controlling the disease. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARBINE Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 They will be dithering for another 10 years on this Im sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 In the meantime people shoot them illegally rather than loose their herd Way to go Defra LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 23, 2008 Report Share Posted February 23, 2008 This is the sort of thing that really winds me up, and I mean REALLY WINDS ME UP. What does public opinion have to do with it? The majority have no idea what they're talking about so there opinion is just that, an opinion. **** what the public say, do whatever is proven to be best by the scientists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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