, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
It’s fine. I had a meeting with the CVO last week around that. I have got another meeting—I think it might be this afternoon or it may be tomorrow morning, depending on my diary—to discuss the next thing. I’ve had advice; I do have concerns. Just last week…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Morning.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Well, unfortunately, because we left the European Union, we didn't have that funding. Because we've left the European Union, we're not part of the new rural development programme, which is where that 5 per cent would sit. So, unfortunately, the UK Government…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
No.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
I've mentioned that the basic payment scheme is the area that they know they've got stability. I've had discussions with the farming unions, obviously, and with individual farmers as well. I was on one farm—I think I may have said this in the Chamber—where…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
—but I think it was only me, because everybody else froze as well. Can I just ask about your support for the farming industry and how it's coping with the squeeze on margins due to increased input costs, and what support is being given there?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Sorry.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, I suppose, the major thing is that we've maintained the basic payment scheme, and that we're encouraging, within the agriculture Bill, the focus on sustainable food production, because we've got to tackle the climate emergency as well. If we don't tackle…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Yes. I'm having regular meetings with UK Government Ministers, and I think we are due one very soon. They're led by Victoria Prentis, who's the Minister of State in DEFRA. I also meet, as I said before, regularly with people from the agricultural, farming…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, as I say, this was led by the Minister for Social Justice, and I think what that food poverty round-table event was primarily for was to underline that food poverty is about affordability and not accessibility. So, the most immediate food threat for…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
For the off-grid properties, we are looking at what further we can do to support. You'll be aware the Minister for Social Justice made an announcement last week on fuel vouchers. Also, we're looking obviously within—it's based in Wrexham—the DAF, the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
You mean in relation to energy?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Thank you. So, yes, we know we're faced with a really difficult time at the moment with the cost-of-living crisis, and you've mentioned particularly energy and food poverty, and people who are off-grid, particularly in our rural communities. The UK Government…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Morning.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, again, we've constantly made clear we've got an amazing family of Welsh food products that have got geographical indicators and it's really important the they're recognised, because they will have worked very hard to get them, and all the companies and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
I think it could be better. I certainly welcome them, and, as you say, it's definitely an improvement from the Australia agreement. Again, it's somewhere where we've pushed really hard, myself and officials, to get that included. It's a bit more of an…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, I do think we have that approach already. I've been very fortunate to go to places such as Dubai, and SIAL in Paris and Anuga in Germany, where we absolutely go out and sell our wonderful Welsh food and drink. The primary place that we offer that support…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, I suppose, from an opportunity point of view, we believe there could be some small benefits, predominantly around services, I think. I think the concerns are that the impacts will be more negative. You'll remember—I think it was the last time I was in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, you're quite right—my intention is to introduce the outline sustainable farming scheme before the end of this term, before summer recess. It will be very different to the current basic payment scheme that we're all very familiar with, and I suppose the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
So, one of the other key things that we want to do is to reduce the regulatory burden on our farmers. So, we want to make it easier for farmers to understand what they must do to comply with the law through the implementation of national minimum standards…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Yes, you're quite right—I will be introducing the agriculture Bill in the autumn. The principle objective and issue is that it will establish a new system of farm support, based on the principles of sustainable land management. You'll be aware that I took…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd
Diolch and bore da, pawb. So, I'm Lesley Griffiths. I'm the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd. I'm joined by Victoria Jones, who's deputy director of agriculture, James Owen, deputy director land management reform, and Gareth Bevington…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. Well, I certainly agree with what the Member said around the 72 people who sadly lost their lives, and our thoughts are with their families and, of course, the significant impact it will have had on their lives, but also with people who are having…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. I absolutely accept what a worrying time it is for anyone who is referred with the possibility of having cancer and, as you say, the impact it has not just on them, but on the wider family and friends. You'll be aware that the Minister did launch…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. Well, I'm very proud the Welsh Government, along with Plaid Cymru as part of our co-operation agreement, are bringing forward free school meals. Clearly, there are issues to be addressed, and I think capacity within schools is one. There are other…
