Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date was the last confirmed positive case of bovine tuberculosis in badgers in Hampshire.

Surveillance for TB in badgers has not taken place in Hampshire for many years. To address this evidence gap Defra funded the ‘Southern Edge Area RTA survey’ where, in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, we are carrying out post-mortem investigation of badgers found dead on the roads, including in Hampshire. Results will be available in due course, once final analysis has been carried out. Badgers removed under licence in cull operations, including those in Hampshire, are not routinely tested for TB.