Your questions answered
Below are the most popular questions and answers on current hot topics to the public, last updated on 14 July 2008.
- Why is Defra saying no to a badger cull and what is being done to control the spread of TB?
- There is ragwort growing in a field close to where I live. I am worried that it might poison livestock. What should I do about it?
- Why can’t the relatives of deceased members of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) receive badges on their behalf?
- I have concerns about Genetically Modified (GM) crops. Is the Government trying to find ways of growing them in this country?
- What are you doing to tackle fuel poverty?
Why is Defra saying no to a badger cull and what is being done to control the spread of TB?
The Secretary of State based his decision not to issue any licences to farmers to cull badgers for preventing bovine TB on a wide range of evidence. This included discussions with farming, veterinary, wildlife and conservation groups, the conclusions of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA) report. Delivering an effective large area cull in practice would be a difficult and costly operation and need to be sustained for a number of years. Public opposition to culling could increase the challenge of effective delivery. We therefore cannot be certain any cull would be effective, and a badly delivered cull would make the situation worse.
We will instead be putting our efforts into strengthening our programme of research to develop cattle and badger vaccines and plan for their deployment. £20 million will be invested over the next three years in developing usable cattle and badger vaccines.
Cattle-based measures are critical to tackling this disease. The current cattle control measures which form part of the government’s TB control policy include the routine cattle testing programme, pre-movement testing for cattle moving from high risk herds, a zero tolerance regime for overdue tests and targeted use of the gamma interferon test. We are also encouraging good husbandry practice and actively pursuing the future use of vaccination of cattle or wildlife. For further information on bovine TB please visit: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/
There is ragwort growing in a field close to where I live. I am worried that it might poison livestock. What should I do about it?
We recommend that firstly you approach the landowner or occupier of the land and ask them to clear the weeds. If this approach is unsuccessful the next step is to complete a weeds complaint form (Weeds 2) and when completed it should be sent to the Natural England Office, Block 3, Government Buildings, Burghill Road, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS106NJ.
Defra has a procedure for investigating complaints about injurious weeds under the Weeds Act. Priority will be given to investigating complaints about weeds on land that is used for;
- keeping or grazing horses and other livestock;
- farmland used to produce conserved forage or
- other agricultural activities
We also prioritise complaints where the complainant has already made reasonable efforts to contact the landowner or occupier about the weeds but the weeds are still there. For further information on the control of ragwort please visit: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/wildlife/weeds/.
Why can’t the relatives of deceased members of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) receive badges on their behalf?
The WLA and Timber Corps Veterans Badges are survivors’ badges and are only awarded to those members who were alive on 6 December 2007. The badges can also be awarded to the spouses and descendents of those who died on or after that date.
This approach is similar to that taken by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in its award of the Bevin Boys Badge and likewise with the Veterans Badge awarded by the Ministry of Defence. Both these departments limited eligibility to a particular date and in this respect Defra has been no different. We have a duty to consider the financial impact on the tax payer but there would have been other administrative and practical difficulties if we had not limited eligibility. For example, we would have had to determine which descendent should receive the badge in cases where there were competing claims. For further information please visit: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/.
I have concerns about Genetically Modified (GM) crops. Is the Government trying to find ways of growing them in this country?
Ensuring GM crops are safe for human health and the environment remains our top priority. The Government therefore supports the existing EU controls which require proposed GM products to undergo a detailed case-by-case risk assessment. We have no intention of agreeing to the commercial cultivation of GM crops in the UK unless it is clear that the environment will not be compromised. There is no question of GM crops being forced on anyone. Any GM products that secure EU marketing approval will have to be clearly labelled so that people will be able to decide for themselves whether or not to use them.
We do believe that it is right to look at the potential for some crops to help developing countries improve their food security. Although the current generation of GM crops does not give an intrinsic yield benefit, it may increase production indirectly, for example by reducing the level of pest damage. In addition, new types of GM crops are being developed with traits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance. If these work and are used responsibly, they could help alongside other improvements to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable, especially in areas of the developing world where growing conditions are difficult. Given the pressure on food prices and food security, we should keep an open mind and look at the issues fairly, based on the evidence.
What are you doing to tackle fuel poverty?
The Warm Front Scheme is designed to support the most vulnerable fuel poor households. Qualifying households are now eligible for the installation of a central heating system, and we have extended the provision of Benefit Entitlement Checks to help boost household income.
For more information please visit: www.warmfront.co.uk/
The Energy Retail Association launched the Home Heat Helpline in October 2005 (0800 33 66 99). This provides vulnerable customers with a central point of information about energy efficiency measures and tariff advice across the different energy suppliers.
The Department of Health's “Keep Warm, Keep Well” campaign also provides advice about the health dangers of cold housing. It suggests practical sources of help and advice to protect vulnerable householders.
Page last modified: 27 August 2008
Page published: 23 June 2008