Statement on bovine TB

The Welsh Government was attacked by members of the opposition parties for its decision on 21 June 2011 to put the badger cull on hold.

In a statement to the assembly, Environment Minister John Griffiths AM explained that a further review of the scientific evidence base regarding the eradication of bovine TB in Wales will be conducted.

He announced that the Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Harries will oversee the review and appoint an independent panel of experts.

The previous Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government was in favour of the badger cull and the former assembly had voted for the cull following extensive evidence gathering and scrutinising.

Conservative AM Antoinnette Sandbach was critical of today's "u-turn" saying that the assembly "urgently needs to see the specific legal and scientific evidence that has led to this postponement".

Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Huws Griffiths accused the government of "dithering" and "kicking the issue of TB into the long grass".

Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, also attacked the minister reminding him that he had personally voted in favour of the cull only 91 days ago.

Read this in Welsh.