Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 2. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 15 January 2019.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:27, 15 January 2019

Well, Llywydd, let me respond again to the opening part of Paul Davies's second question by saying that, of course, when things go wrong, we recognise them, as we did at the time, and said the necessary things then. In his general point, of course, I agree with much of what he has to say; bovine TB is an awful experience for farmers who have to encounter it, and the Welsh Government works really closely with the industry to make sure that we are able to do all the things that we can put in place that we think are effective in tackling the disease. There are many good things that have happened as a result of all those endeavours, including better biosecurity at farms, including better traceability and better testing as well, which partly explains some of the ways in which the numbers that he referred to rise. Because if you have a better understanding of the disease, know its prevalence, know where it is to be found, then—hugely difficult as I understand it is for farmers involved—dealing with cattle who are infected has to be part of the way in which the long-term eradication of the disease is brought about.