With the consultation period on Defra’s bovine TB control strategy coming to a close, and controversy over the badger cull at fever pitch in England, Defra chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens has agreed to answer questions from signatories of the 38 degrees campaign against the cull. image expired

Mr Gibbens will attempt to answer questions from 38 Degrees members about bovine TB control measures and the science behind the plans. The site, which also launched well supported campaigns against the forest sell-offs and the controversial Nocton Dairies proposals earlier this year has so far collected 32,000 signatures from people who believe other control measures should be taken before culling is considered.

The deadline for questions submitted to 38 degrees is today (Tuesday 13th September) at 5pm. Gibbens' responses will appear on the site by Thursday; follow-up questions will also be asked and answered on Friday.

The majority of 38 Degrees users do not believe scientific evidence collected from previous trials supports government plans to ‘free shoot’ badgers as part of trial culls in disease hotspots. The website’s creators said, "The scientific evidence from a decade of trials doesn’t support what the government is presently planning."

They point to comments made by Lord Krebs, who conducted the trials on which Defra’s evidenced is based, and said of the plans currently under consultation, "I can’t understand how anybody who’s looked at the science would say this is a good idea."

In an attempt to defend Defra’s position, Professor Gibbens will respond to questions on badgers, culling, vaccines and bovine TB. Mr Gibbens commented on the site in August; he claimed the decision to carry out culls had a scientific basis and said, "The estimated benefit [of a cull] was agreed by a group of eminent scientists."