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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bovine TB: Badger vaccinations 'no magic bullet' | Bovine TB: Badger vaccinations 'no magic bullet' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Vaccinating badgers to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in cattle would be expensive and offer no "magic bullet", MPs have said. | Vaccinating badgers to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in cattle would be expensive and offer no "magic bullet", MPs have said. |
| Governments had invested more than £43m in developing vaccines since 1994 but these could not provide a "complete solution", the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee added. | Governments had invested more than £43m in developing vaccines since 1994 but these could not provide a "complete solution", the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee added. |
| Ministers have given the go-ahead for badger culls in south-west England. | Ministers have given the go-ahead for badger culls in south-west England. |
| The animals are known to spread TB, with thousands of cattle slaughtered. | The animals are known to spread TB, with thousands of cattle slaughtered. |
| The government says the disease has already cost farmers and the wider economy more than £500m and that this will rise to £1bn if the badger cull does not take place. | The government says the disease has already cost farmers and the wider economy more than £500m and that this will rise to £1bn if the badger cull does not take place. |
| MPs are currently debating the issue in the House of Commons. | |
| The opposition has called for an alternative to badger culls but the government is proceeding with six week pilots in Gloucestershire and Somerset. | The opposition has called for an alternative to badger culls but the government is proceeding with six week pilots in Gloucestershire and Somerset. |
| 'Progress' | 'Progress' |
| Animal rights activists say they will take direct action to stop more than 5,000 animals being shot. | Animal rights activists say they will take direct action to stop more than 5,000 animals being shot. |
| They argue that vaccinating badgers would be more humane and a more effective way to stop bovine TB spreading. | They argue that vaccinating badgers would be more humane and a more effective way to stop bovine TB spreading. |
| But the committee's chairman, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, said: "While progress to develop vaccines is clearly being made, debate on this subject has been characterised by lack of clarity leading to poor public understanding. The government must share a great deal of the blame for this." | But the committee's chairman, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, said: "While progress to develop vaccines is clearly being made, debate on this subject has been characterised by lack of clarity leading to poor public understanding. The government must share a great deal of the blame for this." |
| She added: "The government is right to invest millions of pounds in developing vaccines against bovine TB. We should use every tool to combat this disease, but vaccination alone will not, at least in the short term, provide a complete solution. | She added: "The government is right to invest millions of pounds in developing vaccines against bovine TB. We should use every tool to combat this disease, but vaccination alone will not, at least in the short term, provide a complete solution. |
| "Vaccines have no impact on already infected animals, offer a range of protection to those that aren't infected, and will be expensive to deploy." | "Vaccines have no impact on already infected animals, offer a range of protection to those that aren't infected, and will be expensive to deploy." |
| The committee found that injecting badgers with vaccines would cost between £2,000 and £4,000 per square kilometre. | The committee found that injecting badgers with vaccines would cost between £2,000 and £4,000 per square kilometre. |
| Oral vaccine | Oral vaccine |
| Successive governments had invested more than £43m on vaccine research and development since 1994, the MPs said, adding that by the end of the current spending review period the coalition would have spent a further £15m. | Successive governments had invested more than £43m on vaccine research and development since 1994, the MPs said, adding that by the end of the current spending review period the coalition would have spent a further £15m. |
| The committee said an "oral, baited vaccine" for badgers would be "cheaper and potentially more practical" than trying to inject the animals. | The committee said an "oral, baited vaccine" for badgers would be "cheaper and potentially more practical" than trying to inject the animals. |
| It argued: "Progress towards an oral vaccine for badgers is evident but one will not be available in the near future. | It argued: "Progress towards an oral vaccine for badgers is evident but one will not be available in the near future. |
| "Further scientific information is required before a candidate vaccine might be taken forward to be licensed." | "Further scientific information is required before a candidate vaccine might be taken forward to be licensed." |
| Lib Dem MP Andrew George said ministers had signalled a willingness to back a vaccination trial in west Cornwall, which could cost about £2m. | Lib Dem MP Andrew George said ministers had signalled a willingness to back a vaccination trial in west Cornwall, which could cost about £2m. |
| The St Ives MP said this would be cheaper than having to police demonstrations against badger culls. Animal organisations might match funding provided by the government, he added. | The St Ives MP said this would be cheaper than having to police demonstrations against badger culls. Animal organisations might match funding provided by the government, he added. |
| Under the government's plans, badgers will be shot in the open without first being trapped in cages, which is current practice. The RSPCA, which opposes the cull, has said it wants to help fund vaccination development. | Under the government's plans, badgers will be shot in the open without first being trapped in cages, which is current practice. The RSPCA, which opposes the cull, has said it wants to help fund vaccination development. |
| It and other animal welfare groups have said a cull will have little or no impact on reducing bovine TB in cattle. | It and other animal welfare groups have said a cull will have little or no impact on reducing bovine TB in cattle. |