I thank Paul Davies for his broad welcome for the refreshed TB eradication programme. You started off by talking about targets, and you’ll be aware that I responded this morning to the recommendations made by the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee. I think it was recommendations 1 and 2 that were around targets, and I was very happy to accept those recommendations. I will bring forward some targets, and also interim targets, by the end of this calendar year.

Regarding monitoring, that will be constant. The idea of having the first delivery plan was to have the overarching strategic document in the eradication programme, but then underneath that, have the delivery plan, which can be flexible. So, if we need to respond to a changing pattern, for instance, we would be able to do that quickly. I want that delivery plan not to be a Welsh Government document. I want that to be very much in conjunction with the sector, with farmers and with the veterinary profession. You’ll be aware of the bespoke plans that we’re going to have with the chronic herd breakdowns. We’ve got 10 per cent of our herd breakdowns that are the chronic herd breakdowns, i.e. over 18 months—some of them since 2001. It’s completely unacceptable, and I said this in my statement last October, before we went to consultation, that we really needed to look at these chronic herd breakdowns specifically. I absolutely agree: transparency is imperative, and again, we will be doing annual monitoring, and I will be very happy to report back on that.

In regard to the regionalisation approach, again, the consultation—some people were in favour, some people weren’t, but I think it’s really important that we have it, and as I said in my statement, I think TB-free in north-west Wales, in that low area, is within our grasp, and that would really send a very positive message out. I don’t want to burden farmers any more than they are. I don’t want more regulation. However, we do want a TB-free Wales, so we have to have this holistic and new approach to the disease.

You asked about trade between Wales and England and officials have certainly spoken to DEFRA and had discussions around that. I’m very happy with the arrangements that we’ve currently got in place. You referred to the informed purchasing status. I think that’s really important. So, we’ve had a voluntary sort of scheme, if you like, and we’ve given grant funding to livestock markets. Not all livestock markets have taken up the grant funding. I would say that not all livestock markets are producing the information that I think buyers need. So, I do think the only way forward, really, is a mandatory scheme, so I’ve asked officials to look at how we could introduce that.

I mentioned in my statement that checks are really important and I think particularly for farms. You know, I was asked the question about: if you’re in a high TB area but you haven’t had TB breakdown, how do you then inform people that you haven’t had it? So, I think checks are a way forward to do that, and as I said, I would encourage everybody to encourage farmers to do that.

You asked about post-movement testing in the low and intermediate TB areas and I said that this year, on 1 October, we’ll introduce that in the low TB area. I just think we need to identify disease at an earlier stage. We don’t want the disease introduced into the low TB area. I think we must do all we can to protect that. And because we know the majority of the way that it’s spread from high TB areas into intermediate TB areas, I plan to introduce it next year there.

I absolutely agree with you about six-month testing, and we looked at the consultation responses. My advice from the chief veterinary officer’s office was to continue with annual testing, but, again, we will obviously monitor that.

In relation to the compensation cap, it was £15,000 and it’s now going to be £5,000. Looking at last year’s figures, that would affect about 1 per cent of farmers. However, there is an issue around pedigree cattle, and I would encourage people who feel they’ve got cattle more valuable to look at insurance.

You ask about inconclusive reactors and, again, we’ve said that, in those chronic herd breakdowns, we will be removing them immediately, but just, again, as part of the bespoke plans, and life long has been ruled out.