We had a debate in the Assembly this week regarding bovine TB. The Assembly voted to welcome the rural sub committee's report which has recommended a holistic approach to tackling the disease. I very much welcome the recommendations including eradicating the disease by setting up "Intensive Treatment Areas" with a view of controlling wildlife in the area as well as cattle. I remember discussing the same issues regarding bovine TB five years ago and the only thing that has changed is the dramatic increase in the incidence levels. It is clear that the current policy of culling cattle without controlling wildlife is not working. It is not sensible to destroy one set of animals without controlling the other. The recommendations in this report are sensible, and adopt a holistic, clear and concise approach to eradicating the disease. I very much hope that the Assembly Government accept these sensible recommendations and that this is not yet another report that will not be acted upon. It must be in the interests of taxpayers to eradicate this disease where the general public foot a bill to the tune of £11 Million in compensation payments per year. The Government must act in the interests of the agricultural sector as well - farmers deserve our support. I'm off to Llandudno now for our Welsh conference.