Diolch, Simon Thomas, for welcoming the statement and for your questions. You’re quite right, it is a matter of public health as well as animal welfare. I think we all share that aim of Wales being TB free. That’s why, because of that plateau—we knew that was coming—it was really important that we refreshed the TB programme.

In relation to your specific question, you’re quite right, I did forget to answer Paul Davies’s questions around monitoring. So, you’ll be aware that, in relation to the trapping of badgers, that is only on those chronic herd breakdowns. I mentioned there are between 50 and 60, so those actions plans are being drawn up at the current time. I have asked for those action plans to be monitored. I mentioned the vet, and obviously the Animal and Plant Health Agency. I would like to report probably annually as to how this is progressing. So, it’s going to take a year before, really, I’m able to report in a substantive way that would be beneficial.

In relation to the informed purchasing scheme you also mentioned, as did Paul Davies, as I say, we absolutely intend to introduce a mandatory informed purchasing scheme. And the reason we’re doing that is because it has made a significant contribution to TB eradication in both Australia and New Zealand and I was very fortunate to talk to somebody from New Zealand about this. You’re quite right, we won’t be reporting which farms are having the bespoke action plans because, obviously, there is a security question, but as I say, I will be reporting, certainly—my intention is annually.

In relation to the compensation cap, I am committed to paying a reasonable compensation sum for cattle slaughter because of TB, but it is getting more imperative that we do look at what funding we can save, because you’re quite right, we do not know where that funding is. So, certainly, my intention would be to continue to fund at the level we are, but you will appreciate that budgets are done on an annual basis and we’ll have to look at that. But it isn’t about saving money, it is about eradicating TB, and I am concerned that overvaluation does increase the cost to the taxpayer, and I really want to avoid that. And when you compare our average compensation payments, they are 60 per cent higher when you compare them to England, which I don’t think is acceptable.

You mentioned about otters and beavers: I, too, heard over the summer recess that they were looking to introduce beavers in Wales, but the last time I checked there hadn’t been any applications for licences, but, obviously, this is something that we will have to look at if that, obviously, happens. And I mentioned that the dead badger survey will now include other species, and I would encourage all Members to make sure that that phone number—which I haven’t got to hand; it’s in here somewhere—is available to everyone, and that if they do find a dead badger, they report it.

I too hope that this will bring forward significant improvement, particularly in those chronic heard breakdowns, which, as I say, some of them—or one of them, has been in breakdown since 2001. It’s completely unacceptable at so many different levels, and I am very pleased with the way the sector has worked with us to develop the refresh of the eradication programme.