Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 3 July 2014, Official Report, column 727W, on Bovine Tuberculosis, whether planned further research into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling will be conducted on live badgers.
Answered by George Eustice
There are currently no plans to use live badgers in research on the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 20W, on bovine tuberculosis, whether his Department has since commissioned any research about the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of gassing badgers.
Answered by George Eustice
In August 2013, we commissioned new research into alternative methods of culling badgers.
The first step involved reviewing and updating the ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control' published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013.
Following research carried out as a result of Lord Zuckerman's review in the 1980s, we would not support the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives.
In October and November 2013 we carried out initial trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals.
Further research is now planned into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential suffering felt by badgers through gaseous methods of slaughter.
Answered by George Eustice
In August 2013, we commissioned new research into alternative methods of culling badgers.
The first step involved reviewing and updating the ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control' published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013.
Following research carried out as a result of Lord Zuckerman's review in the 1980s, we would not support the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives.
In October and November 2013 we carried out initial trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals.
Further research is now planned into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which policies of other countries he has assessed with regards to the gassing of badgers.
Answered by George Eustice
Carbon monoxide gas has been used successfully in the United States and Australia to control a range of species including burrowing rodents, rabbits and larger mammals such as coyotes and foxes.