Thank you very much to Sam Kurtz for those questions. It is a horrific disease, I absolutely agree with you, and it is vital that we work in partnership. I would never, ever present one thing within the toolbox as being—I don't like the phrase 'a silver bullet', but that was your phrase. But, it isn't, it is about a suite of measures, and certainly since the five years I've been in portfolio, I came to learn that very, very quickly. When you look at the science, there isn't one thing; if there were, how much easier life would be. There isn't. So, it is about making sure that the measures we have in place are absolutely correct. 

You asked about statistics in your first question and certainly, looking at short-term trends, on 30 June this year, there were 81 fewer herds under movement restrictions compared with the previous year, so the previous 30 June 2020. I think it is really important that we don't read too much into short-term trends, as we do expect short-term fluctuations in the figures. So, I think it's really important that we do have a look at the figures, and I mentioned in my statement around the 48 per cent which you referred to.

I don't agree with you that there's been slow progress. I do think since we have had this programme we have made some significant progress, but of course if you're in a long-term breakdown—that is one over 18 months—that's of very small comfort to you, and I absolutely appreciate that. When we refreshed the programme four years ago, we brought in the bespoke action plans, which I think have helped some farmers. Not all farmers have welcomed it, but I certainly think it has helped them. But I do think it's now time for a refresh and, as you say, in the consultation, we have brought forward several things that we're going to look at, and I'm proposing that we change them.

In relation to the cattle vaccination that you referred to—as I say, I don't think there is any one thing, it has to be a combination—the aim is to have a deployable cattle TB vaccine with a test that can differentiate infected from vaccinated animals by 2025. Certainly, when I met with Professor Glyn Hewinson in the summer in Aberystwyth University, he was very excited about this because he said it's always been 10 years hence, and now it's four years, which I appreciate is quite a long time, but we are getting closer to that. I certainly think the UK Government are keen to have a cattle vaccination, and there is definitely an impetus now, I would say, across the UK. 

I mentioned in my statement that I am disappointed there are no Welsh farms taking part in these trials, they are all English farms at the moment. Anything we can do to encourage farms from low TB areas to participate in these trials would be really good. Certainly, as a Government, we are working closely with DEFRA and the Scottish Government, and there have been about 20 years now of research into this vaccination, and I know the Welsh Government, way before my time, really led on this. 

You asked about skin tests and testing in general. Certainly, the skin test is a long-established test and it's used worldwide. It's the main surveillance test in all, as far as I can see, TB controlled programmes, and it's likely to identify only one false positive animal in every 5,000 of non-infected cattle tested. I'm very keen to look at new testing, and I mentioned it's part of the consultation, and I really look forward to views coming forward around testing. There are tests that aren't validated yet, but again I know my officials have engaged with people around that. I think collectively we all want to improve testing, and this is a real opportunity now to have a look. 

You mentioned the—I think it was the IDEXX antibody test specifically, which as you know is a blood test and it has to be performed between 10 and 30 days after a skin TB test. The high positivity rate in 2020 that we did see is likely to be the fact that we targeted that test, and of course then it's our higher risk animals. So, we have been using it, and the gamma test, in our TB hotspots in north Wales for the first time. So, it's interesting to see the results we are getting there.

In relation to compensation, again, I'm consulting on three options, and I hope you've had time to have a look at the consultation. We are consulting on three options. They've been recommended to me by the programme board. So, I was very keen to have the table valuations plus a top-up for being a member of an accreditation scheme, and then the TB levy. Those three options are set out in the consultation document.

You mentioned the overspend and you're right: it's a demand-led scheme, so, obviously—. I think, every year, we have oversubscribed for it, but, as a Government, we have a statutory duty to pay farmers for animals that have been slaughtered under the programme, and we always find that funding. I reprioritise, I redirect and I divert funding away from it, but we do need to reduce that funding—and, again, it is part of the consultation. So, again, I would urge Members to encourage farmers, certainly, and all their constituents, if they have an interest in this, to participate in the consultation.