Representatives from Badger Trust Cymru are meeting officials from the Welsh Assembly Government this morning [10 November] to demand Official Observer status on two secret groups[1] planning a mass cull of badgers in Wales.

Steve Clark, spokesman for Badger Trust Cymru, commented:

"Elin Jones has excluded Badger Trust Cymru, even though we are Wales' primary stakeholder for badger conservation.  Without evidence, she claims that disclosing information to us about the badger cull groups' discussions could trigger public demonstrations and criminal damage to property.

"We believe in open government.  But since Mrs Jones is so alarmed about the consequences of the groups' secret discussions being made public, we are prepared simply to observe the meetings, read the paperwork and comply with the Minister's gagging order.

"Official Observer status will allow us to identify the inevitable flaws in a badger culling strategy early and explain those flaws in writing to the Minister and to the individuals chairing the two groups.  This compromise is frustrating but, if the Minister insists on doing business in secret, we have no choice but to agree if Wales' badgers are to be protected from wanton extermination."

1. The two groups are the TB Eradication Programme Board and the Technical Advisory Group.  On 19 September, in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Badger Trust on behalf of the eight badger groups covering Wales, Elin Jones refused to disclose either the membership of the two groups or the minutes of their meetings.  Elin Jones claims the two groups will disclose their badger culling plans through the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group.  But although the two groups had already had several meetings, they have not yet provided any information about badger culling to the steering group.