A HOUSE of Commons debate on Bovine Tuberculosis, which had been secured by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, took place on Tuesday. This is the latest stage in a sustained campaign designed to put pressure on the Government to take urgent action to counter the grave and growing threat of the disease. Mr Cox has repeatedly called on the Government to intervene to save an industry he recently described as ?dying?. He said he was delighted that parliament had the opportunity to debate this important issue and to try and obtain some substantive answers from the Government. He said he hoped the debate would give farmers, whose lives had been blighted by TB, some indication that ministers were taking the problem seriously. The debate came just weeks after Mr Cox challenged the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State over the Government?s failure to maintain Devon?s State Veterinary Service which performs a vital function in testing TB in cattle at full complement. In his response the minister suggested an announcement, setting out the department?s position, was imminent.