Dr. Lynn Hillyer:

I would like to try and answer for the same reasons as quickly as I can. Mr. Kimmage contacted me, exactly as the Deputy said, this week in between these two meetings. I have said that I would be very happy to sit down and discuss matters with him. That is that part of it.

As for the second part of it as to whether I have any personal connection with the BHA, I am an ex-employee of the BHA. That is it. We contacted the BHA following our session last week because I wanted to be clear on what I could and could not say given confidentiality.

I can absolutely and categorically confirm that the six horses originally tested by the BHA were followed up with further testing involving three horses and that is one of the most extensive pieces of work I have ever seen. They went back some three years in their hair testing. They also undertook unannounced - targeted, intelligence-led proper stuff - sampling of horses related to those six horses on track over a number of months in England. It was only when that work was completed that they were satisfied to say to us that they were happy that there was no problem.

Dr. Pearce is on this call. The Deputy can hear it straight from the horse's mouth as Dr. Pearce's team carried out that investigation and analysis. As I say, we now have the green light to give the committee the level of detail I think is needed here to clarify this matter. I do not want to take up time for the committee but it is important. We have been asked the question; Dr. Pearce can answer it.