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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to exchange scientific research with the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland on tackling bovine tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement.

Defra actively shares scientific information on bovine TB with the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland (DARDNI). Although Defra’s TB research budget does not cover Northern Ireland, DARDNI staff members regularly attend meetings of Defra’s TB Science Advisory Body sub-groups and Defra shares findings from its research with DARDNI including research on improving diagnostic tests for TB in badgers. The Chief Veterinary Officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and senior policy officials, also meet monthly to discuss all issues related to bovine tuberculosis, including research findings.