Lack of action on bovine TB

The number of cases of bovine TB in Shropshire has risen threefold in the last six years, statistics show.

There were some 39 cases in 2000. This increased to 147 last year, according to data obtained by MP Daniel Kawczynski.

And the Shrewsbury and Atcham MP, who set up and is chairman of the parliamentary All-Party Group for Dairy Farmers, claims ministers are "doing very little" to tackle the crisis.

The Tory MP, who recently presented a backbench bill to Parliament aimed at getting a fairer deal for dairy farmers who are currently paid as little as 16p a litre for the milk they produce for supermarkets, said in addition to milk prices and red tape, farmers were also battling against "the tremendous crisis of bovine tuberculosis".

He said: "When I first became an MP, I was lobbied by my Shrewsbury farmers on many occasions to take up the cause.

"I started to speak out on these issues two years ago as an individual MP.

"We have seen a massive increase in the number of cases of bovine TB in Shropshire and, in my estimation, the Government are doing very little to tackle it."

The Tory MP said there was a great deal of support for the body from across the country - and from MPs - determined to address the many problems facing dairy farmers.

"We number 157 members from all parties," continued Mr Kawczynski.

"That shows the extent of feeling on this issue among all political parties - we all want to do something to ensure that the UK continues to have a dairy industry," he added.

By Sunita Patel