TWO questions about Mous'l Fern, the Dexter calf under sentence of death, were asked by MP Anthony Steen in the House of Commons this week. The first question asked the secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons her department has refused Ms Kremers, of New Park Farm, Ogwell, the option of paying for a second TB test for an animal that tested positive to the initial tuberculin skin test; and by what means Ms Kremers can appeal against this decision. The answer was: 'The current skin test for bovine TB is an effective test. It is the accepted standard laid down in both national and international legislation for determining the existence of disease in a cattle herd. 'The TB Order 1984 requires cattle failing the TB test, and those considered to have been direct contacts exposed to TB, to be compulsorily slaughtered. There is no provision for a second TB test nor is there a mechanism for appeals.' The second question asked 'under what legislation the department has the authority to block a second bovine TB test for a calf that tested positive to the initial tuberculin skin test when the owner is willing to pay for the test.' The answer to this question was deferred. 'This means they have to research the answer further,' said a House of Commons researcher. 'There is usually a reply in about a week.' Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross agrees with his colleague's support of the case. 'Defra need to be flexible – they should judge matters case by case, not use a blanket implementation of regulations,' said Mr Younger-Ross.
