Meetings

Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer – Welsh Government

2.1 The Chair welcomed Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs; Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer; Tim Render, Director Environment and Rural Affairs; and Gian Marco Currado, Director Environment and Marine, to the meeting.

2.2 The Minister agreed to provide a written note outlining criteria attached to funding provided by the Welsh Government to livestock markets for upgrading facilities that provides information on livestock.

2.3 The Minister agreed to provide a note on incidences of bovine TB relative to herd size.

The Committee noted the update on Bovine TB from the Welsh Government and agreed to seek further clarification on an issue raised in the letter.

Dr Gareth Enticott, School of Geography and Planning – Cardiff University

Members received a presentation from Dr Gareth Enticott on Bovine TB and asked questions.

The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs about the issues raised.

Members considered and agreed the draft report and agreed to publish it in May.

Members discussed the paper.

The Committee considered the evidence received.

Lesley Griffiths AM, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs

Prof Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales

Martin Williams - Head of Plant Health & Bio-Technology Unit

Members heard evidence on the Welsh Government’s approach to eradicating bovine tuberculosis in Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide further information on Welsh Government spending on the Bovine TB eradication programme.

The Cabinet Secretary agreed to answer further questions in writing on the use of snares in Wales and provide the Committee with the note of the stakeholder workshop held on 16 November.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the analysis of the evidence with regards to the spread of bovine TB as a result of perturbation of wildlife.  She also agreed to update the Committee on the issue of the two kilometre buffer zone around cull sites in England.

Dr Malla Hovi, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Members heard evidence from Dr Malla Hovi on the approach to the eradication of Bovine TB in England.

James Byrne, Wildlife Trusts Wales

Lizzie Wilberforce, Wildlife Trusts Wales

Members heard evidence from Wildlife Trusts Wales on the eradication of Bovine TB in Wales.

Dr Nick Fenwick, Farmer’s Union of Wales

Dr Hazel Wright, Farmer’s Union of Wales

Stephen James, President of NFU Cymru

Peter Howells, NFU Cymru

Members heard evidence from NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales on the eradication of Bovine TB in Wales.

Dr Paul Livingstone

Former TB Eradication and Research Manager for New Zealand’s Animal Health Board

Members heard evidence from Dr Paul Livingstone on the approach to bovine TB eradication in New Zealand.

The Committee considered the evidence received.

Dr Neil Paton, British Veterinary Association

The witness responded to questions from Members.

Professor Rosie Woodroffe, Institute of Zoology

Dr Gareth Enticott, Cardiff University

The witnesses responded to questions from Members.