I thank the Minister for this statement today and the plan that's been submitted. I'm particularly pleased to see the collaborative element that's part of the statement, which is so important if we're going to tackle this challenge of eradicating TB. But I stand before you today to discuss the refreshed TB eradication programme with a heavy heart, because I'm painfully aware of dear friends who are going through a terrible mental ordeal today, because they have been told that there is TB either in their herd or on a nearby farm. In the face of this, they feel completely helpless, and fear the worst. 

The mental anguish is dreadful, leading some to consider the extreme act of taking their own lives. Families, friends, and communities are suffering as well because of this. This is the level of pain that our farmers have to endure when facing this terrible disease. The president of NFU Wales, Aled Jones, emphasised this message recently, imploring the Government to use all the levers at its disposal to eradicate this disease. So, this statement is to be welcomed today. 

But the official letters that are sent out are written in a cold and threatening manner, which has a detrimental impact on the mental health of the families who receive them. Therefore, I do warmly welcome recommendation 3 of the plan, which is about improving communication. But could we have an assurance from the Minister that the tone of the new letters will be more empathetic, and that any communication will consider the impact on the mental health of those families?

While we have seen the number of cases decrease in some areas, it is a huge concern to see infections spreading from the north-east to the north-west, and more clearly in areas of Wales that are traditionally considered as low risk, and continuing to be stubborn in parts of the south-west. What is the Government's assessment of the reason for this?  

Overstocking and intensive farming do contribute to the intensity of infections, as with any other virus, such as COVID, bTB is spread in intensive environments. One approach is to improve biosecurity measures on farms. This includes improving ventilation in barns and sheds, and ensuring that feed and water sources are kept clean and free of contamination. How much funding is being invested by the Government in these measures at present, and what increase in funding will come as a result of the introduction of this programme today? 

But when there is an infection in an area, the undeniable fact is that it is spread by badgers, as well as from cattle to cattle. Therefore, it's foolish to disregard the culling of badgers in areas where infection is present. Badger culling therefore has to be part of the solution. However one looks at the issue, animals are going to have to be culled, whether they be dozens of badgers or cattle in their hundreds. The plan says that the Government's intention is to invest in a vaccine at the expense of culling, but no timetable is provided for the development of a vaccine.

Following an announcement by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, field trials for a cattle vaccine and a new skin test for bovine tuberculosis have moved on to the next stage, following an announcement by the APHA. If the second phase is successful, we will be closer to being able to vaccinate cattle against this endemic disease. But we haven't seen any major actions to bring us closer to this area recently, so, until we see the vaccine, and in view of the scientific evidence that culling is an important tool in areas where infection exists, will the Minister allow a controlled culling programme in those areas? We need to work on a much larger scale and at a quicker speed than what's happening at the moment if we are seriously going to tackle infection. So, will the Minister tell us what the timetable is for the vaccine so that we can be assured that the Government and others are taking this seriously?

Finally, I do welcome the project in Pembrokeshire, but I'm concerned that it is very restricted. Farmers respect the knowledge of the local farrier, and the project will help to develop that relationship between the farrier and the farmer. So, what plans does the Government have to ensure that vets across Wales are supported in order to have the latest information out to farms as soon as possible? Thank you very much.