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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Announcement due on badger cull | Announcement due on badger cull |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government is to make a statement to Parliament on the proposed cull of of thousands of badgers in England, amid reports it will delay the scheme. | The government is to make a statement to Parliament on the proposed cull of of thousands of badgers in England, amid reports it will delay the scheme. |
| Under the coalition's plans, as many as 100,000 badgers could be shot by trained marksmen, in an effort to reduce levels of bovine TB. | Under the coalition's plans, as many as 100,000 badgers could be shot by trained marksmen, in an effort to reduce levels of bovine TB. |
| Opponents say this is unnecessary and cruel, but ministers argue it is an effective way of fighting the disease. | Opponents say this is unnecessary and cruel, but ministers argue it is an effective way of fighting the disease. |
| But a government source said: "We are committed to the cull." | |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson will make a statement at 12:30 BST. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson will make a statement at 12:30 BST. |
| The Guardian newspaper reports that the badger cull, due to be piloted in south-west England, will be delayed until at least next year. | The Guardian newspaper reports that the badger cull, due to be piloted in south-west England, will be delayed until at least next year. |
| The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says the action is necessary to protect cattle from bovine TB. | The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says the action is necessary to protect cattle from bovine TB. |
| Last year, 26,000 cattle in England had to be slaughtered after contracting the disease. | Last year, 26,000 cattle in England had to be slaughtered after contracting the disease. |
| The Welsh government has opted for a system of vaccination while Scotland is officially TB-free. | The Welsh government has opted for a system of vaccination while Scotland is officially TB-free. |
| The government's plan is based on the results of a nine-year trial which showed the spread of the disease could be slowed slightly if more than 70% of badgers in an area could be eradicated. | The government's plan is based on the results of a nine-year trial which showed the spread of the disease could be slowed slightly if more than 70% of badgers in an area could be eradicated. |
| But if it was less than 70%, the spread of TB could increase, it found. | But if it was less than 70%, the spread of TB could increase, it found. |
| Unlike previous test culls, badgers will be shot in the open without first being trapped in cages. | |
| Opponents, including the RSPCA, say that is inhumane. | |
| An e-petition to the government, created by Queen guitarist Brian May, has attracted more than 160,000 signatures. |