Thank you, Presiding Officer. It’s a pleasure to move the short debate this evening. I’m just checking to see if John has got his phone on or off for my last contribution. It’s a pleasure also to give a minute of my time to Angela Burns and Bethan at the end of my contribution. And to highlight the importance of this debate, we will be having a short video presentation at some point, when the TVs come on. But, first and foremost, let me apologise to Members for keeping them away from their Christmas parties—I know most groups are heading off for their Christmas parties tonight.

However, I’m delighted to bring forward this rather timely debate, particularly ahead of the festive period when we so often are reminded of the Dogs Trust's famous slogan that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. For those of you who are unaware of the Lucy’s law campaign, this was inspired by Lucy, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She was a victim of the puppy farming system and used for breeding for many years with no regard for her health or welfare. The driving force behind Lucy’s law has been to call for an immediate ban on the sale of puppies by pet shops and other third-party commercial dealers who participate in this trade to make a profit. Third-party sellers are dealers, people who do not breed the dogs and kittens and who operate as middlemen or women between the breeders and the buying public. Lucy’s law has been driven by a passionate group of campaigners and has captured the support and attention of people right across the country, including politicians and many high-profile celebrities, such as Ricky Gervais, Brian May and Rachel Riley.

As a dog lover—I have two back at home, at the ranch in the Vale of Glamorgan—it is a campaign that has certainly captured my attention, and I'm so pleased to be associated with it, and also to have met Linda Goodman and the C.A.R.I.A.D., Care And Respect Includes All Dogs, group. I’d also like to pay credit to all the volunteers who have been involved in this grass-roots campaign, who have worked so tirelessly in getting this issue on the agenda for so many. Indeed, the success of this campaign is demonstrated in the petition that is before the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee, which has secured a very significant number of signatures. Over 9,000 people have put pen to paper so far, and we were of course fortunate to have the C.A.R.I.A.D. launch here at the Senedd back last year.

Lucy’s law has undoubtedly captured the hearts of so many people across the nation, and this short video for Members provides a little insight into the campaign as we seek to stop kittens and dogs from being used as breeding machines here in Wales. [Interruption.] As if by magic.