21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
On an ongoing basis, yes.
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes, that's still the position. I've just seen in my briefing note now: we had five proposals, and they've been looked at, but I think they're still continuing to be looked at.
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
I've written to this committee, Chair, around proposals that came in, and what we took was a very pragmatic approach to considering the options in detail, rather than the package of measures that were set out in each proposal that came in. We did have a few…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
I agree with you. I think, at the same time, I did make it very clear that, if anybody was concerned about it or if there was any confusion, help is available. I always say about Farming Connect, because, for me, Farming Connect is the go-to place for our…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Those discussions are ongoing. I met last week with the designated Member Cefin Campbell and shared the advice that I've had with Plaid Cymru, and we're looking at that, and I think it's fair to say we need to make that decision before the Royal Welsh Show as…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
As you know, I'm working with Plaid Cymru as part of the co-operation agreement around the water resources control of agricultural—
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
So, I wasn't aware that I had decided to have a licensing scheme. As you know, we've been out to consultation and we're currently considering that. So, I haven't confirmed that we're having a licensing scheme—
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes. And we've done that to try and provide some certainty in very uncertain times. I think it's also that you don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water, and I think, what Sam said about if you're planting a hedge under Glastir, then you don't want…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
So, as I said in my earlier answer to Sam, I really want to make a decision before the Royal Welsh Show, which is in about four or five weeks. I know that officials are looking at getting that advice up to me imminently. I don't want a cliff edge; I've been…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Absolutely. There are always lessons that you can learn from anything, and as you say, we can take them through to the SFS. We're also going to do an evaluation of our RDP probably next year. But, as I say, because any funding model going forward is going to…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes, around 350 of my whole department is in RPW. We've taken 15 new—. Obviously, staffing isn't for me; I should be very clear as Minister. Staffing is for the Permanent Secretary, and I'll bring Gian Marco in to say a bit more about staffing, if needed. But…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
We've made great strides to try and get more officials into Rural Payments Wales. If you look at my very large department, the majority—probably the majority—of officials do work in RPW. I forget how many—
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes, absolutely. So, officials have been doing this for a long time, and, I think, if you look at Welsh Government's track record, it's exemplary. We've got the lowest level of disallowance right across the UK, and I think we've had that several years on the…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
So, in the oral question session last week, one of your colleagues, James Evans, asked if I could, and I said I would look into it. So, I have looked into it, and apparently, it is public knowledge. I thought it probably would be public knowledge, and there's…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
You will have heard my exchange with Sam Kurtz last week during my oral question session. As you say, there is just around—well, it's a bit under 10 per cent now of funding still to be spent. That funding has to be spent by 31 December this year, when EU…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Thank you. This came into my portfolio. As you know, this was one of our manifesto commitments and has gone into the programme for government. Natural Resources Wales is leading the work, as the legal designating authority. Welsh Government Ministers' role…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Thank you and I know this is something that you've got a particular interest in and we've had discussions around it. Just yesterday, Richard and I were discussing this because I’m very keen to see some improvements, and I don’t know about you, but in the…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
So, officials are still having a look to see if we do need primary powers. Obviously, the regulatory baseline is there, so it’s there, and that will be fine for the SFS. We don’t need anything new. Officials are looking to see if we do need legislation…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
So, as I say, there’s lots of consultation still to have, there’s lots of co-design; the working groups will continue. I was talking to officials on Monday; we had a sort of, 'This is where we are the moment.' I think we could even look to be bringing some…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes.
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
No, if they can’t comply because of the reason that they really can’t plant trees, no, we will have to look at—
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
We’re having a look at that, because obviously we've got the habitats as well, but hedgerows is, yes.
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Well, obviously, that has been in the mix, if you like, for quite a while, and that was part of our requirements to reduce our carbon emissions. So, we all know we haven’t planted enough trees, and I hold my hands up; it was in my portfolio, and we didn’t…
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Yes, that will be a proposal, yes.
21 Mehefin 2023 , Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Craffu Cyffredinol ar Waith y Gweinidog: Y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a’r Trefnydd
Everything's pre show at the moment. [Laughter.] Everything's pre Royal Welsh Show. But, seriously, I do need to make that decision. But the uncertainty for me is that I don't know what my budget is. It would be great to have—. If you look at rural…
