Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Bovine TB: Compensation

29 January 2020 · 5 other contributors · 3,734 words

Opened by Derek Thomas Con St Ives

Responding minister: George Eustice

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Derek Thomas raised concerns about bovine tb: compensation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the current compensation scheme for bovine tuberculosis, which does not cover financial losses when an animal is condemned due to visible lesions.
  • Asked the Government to amend the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2019 to include compensation for animals removed from the food chain due to bovine TB evidence.
  • Minister acknowledged challenges with current diagnostic tests and expressed willingness to meet stakeholders to discuss compensation issues further.

Key requests to Government

I am asking the Government to amend the compensation rules in the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2019 to include cases where an animal is removed from the food chain due to evidence of bovine TB. This change would ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their losses.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Derek Thomas Con St Ives

I am concerned about the current compensation scheme for bovine tuberculosis, which does not provide financial support to farmers when a carcass is condemned due to visible lesions suggesting TB presence. This issue affects local abattoirs and farmers who lose valuable assets without adequate compensation. In my constituency, Vivian Olds, a traditional family butcher with a small abattoir, faced significant financial loss after a cow was condemned based on the presence of lesions. The current scheme requires the farmer to pay for this loss, leading to unfair outcomes.

Other contributors (5)
  • Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford

    Ms Kearns highlighted the economic burden of bovine TB on farmers in her constituency, suggesting that DEFRA should consider a more accurate phage test developed by local farmers in partnership with the University of Nottingham to improve the compensation scheme.

  • Fay Jones Con Constituency Not Provided

    Farmers in Wales are frustrated with the Welsh Government's lack of ambition and bravery compared to the UK Government. Pedigree animals, often part of a long-term genetic plan, deserve higher compensation than is currently offered. Fay Jones emphasized the importance of a fair compensation scheme for farmers affected by bovine TB. She highlighted that such changes could improve communication between the farming community and government agencies, fostering better collaboration in efforts to eradicate the disease.

  • Fiona Bruce Con Congleton

    In her constituency, farmers receive inadequate assessment for compensation, particularly regarding the economic losses due to reduced milk yields and financial penalties from dairies when contracts are breached because of herd culling. Pointed out that farmers sometimes find table valuations do not represent the value of their animals accurately and suggested refining these tables to better reflect individual animal values.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon expressed concern about the need for uniformity in the bovine TB compensation scheme across all parts of the United Kingdom, particularly ensuring that any legislative changes are discussed with the Northern Ireland Assembly and its Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

  • Martin Vickers Con Cleethorpes

    In his intervention, Martin Vickers supported the need for a more equitable compensation scheme. He noted that the current system does not adequately address the financial burden faced by farmers when an animal is condemned due to suspected bovine TB.

Government Response

George Eustice

Addressed concerns over bovine TB compensation, explaining the current system under the Animal Health Act 1981 and highlighting that DEFRA compensates only when compulsory slaughter is required. Noted recent progress in reducing TB incidence but acknowledged challenges with imperfect diagnostic tests. Discussed the use of table valuations versus individual valuations for determining compensation amounts and expressed willingness to meet specific stakeholders to discuss issues further.

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