This control has been in place for some time for all pet and farmed mammals. Under the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2014 the detection of suspect TB lesions in carcases and the identification of Mycobacterium bovis from tissue or other samples (including dogs) is notifiable.

Bovine TB is a notifiable disease in all farmed and pet mammal species, including dogs. The disease has only very rarely been diagnosed in dogs, in this country and elsewhere, and investigations into bovine TB breakdowns in cattle herds have never identified the source of a breakdown as an infected dog.

An epidemiological investigation into this incident is underway.

We have no plans to do this.

TB in dogs, caused by Mycobacterium bovis (the bovine TB bacterium), is extremely rare and dogs pose a very low risk of transmitting the disease.

Bovine TB is a notifiable disease in all farmed and pet mammal species, including dogs. The disease has only very rarely been diagnosed in dogs, in this country and elsewhere, and investigations into bovine TB breakdowns in cattle herds have never identified the source of a breakdown as an infected dog.

Government veterinary experts have provided advice to the hunt kennels and hounds from the affected kennel have not been in contact with other hounds since the initial case was suspected. At this stage no further Government action is considered necessary in relation to other hunts.

We have robust engagement plans to inform and shape our future agriculture and land use policy options and take on board stakeholder views. Decisions on the timings of future legislation and consultation documents about agriculture and land use will be shared in due course. We want to ensure that everyone who is interested has the opportunity to have their say as we shape the vision for these vital industries, including through formal consultation and broader engagement opportunities.

The Government remains committed to banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. We support the Bill sponsored by the Member for Torbay, the Wild Animals in Circuses (Prohibition) Bill. If this Bill is not successful we will introduce legislation when Parliamentary time is available.

We have made no detailed assessment of the implications of bans introduced in other countries.

The number of cattle movements in the UK recorded on the Cattle Tracing System by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) in each year from 2008 to 2016 is shown in the table below:

Year

Cattle Movements

2008

13,445,614

2009

13,194,912

2010

13,654,294

2011

14,570,411

2012

13,810,509

2013

13,736,427

2014

13,742,163

2015

13,783,821

2016

14,084,952

These figures include from April 2010 movements manually entered by BCMS, usually as a result of keeper contact. Where an animal moves off a location and then onto another that is classified in reporting as 2 movements.

Trials have shown that reducing the badger population can help reduce the spread of bovine TB. Tests carried out during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial showed that roughly a third of badgers in the high risk area were infected with TB.

TB cattle controls are the cornerstone of our TB eradication strategy and we continuously look for opportunities to enhance them. In April 2016, we introduced compulsory post-movement testing in the Low Risk Area (LRA) of England to reduce the risk of disease spread from cattle with undisclosed infection.

The table below shows apprenticeship starts in each year since 2010/11. This is based on the number of starts under the Food Manufacture, Agriculture and Horticulture frameworks. The Apprenticeships Levy, being introduced in April, is expected to drive a further increase in apprenticeship numbers.

In the next few years, frameworks are being replaced by employer-led standards. The food and farming industry is developing such standards which will better meet the needs of the industry.

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

Food, farming and agri-tech apprenticeship starts

4,870

7,280

7,180

6,200

5,890

7,160

The annual value of the Pillar 1 budget fluctuates with currency movements but the budget for the 2016 scheme year for the UK was circa £2.7bn. It is too early to calculate the equivalent value for the 2019/2020 scheme year.

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, have had no secondees from PwC, Deloitte, Accenture, McKinsey & Co, Ernst and Young or Bain & Company since July 2016.

Information regarding the stated country of origin of dogs entering GB for non-commercial reasons, supplied by the carriers, is presented in Annex A. We are currently working with carriers to ensure accuracy of all information collated.

Details of the country of origin of dogs entering GB for commercial reasons in 2016 can be extracted from the EU TRACES database, and is presented in Annex B.