, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I don't think it's appropriate for farms to receive payments designed to deliver environmental outcomes where those same farms do not meet baseline regulatory standards in order to protect our environment. The national minimum standards are currently in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Well, you've got to take into account the five years previously, as well. So, as I say, it's six years now, so it'll be six and a half years. You have to have a date when you consider, as Vicky explained, and then it will form part of the review. You're quite…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Well, it was 18 months when it was first brought in, which I think is quite a long time.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Vicky.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Vicky, could you say a bit more about the date, please, and then what will happen after?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
But please bear in mind that we've been looking at alternative measures with the sector since May 2016.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I'm looking to officials here. Am I right on 1 September?FootnoteLink
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I would, but, as I say, the only reason to spread it—I think you're saying they have to do it quickly—is if they haven't got enough slurry storage, and they need to ensure their slurry storage. This is something we've been working on with the farming sector…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Farmers would only need to spread slurry before and after the closed periods if they don't have sufficient storage to manage their slurry properly. Again, the farmer I was talking to at the weekend was saying to me that we should start to value slurry. We…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thanks, Luke. If I can just clarify: officials were—. It wasn't at the request of Cefin. What Cefin's requested is that he and I visit there and we're going to do that in the summer. Officials were already going there. I've been there—I was going to say two…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I think I've outlined the support and advice that's there, so I won't repeat that. What I will repeat is: I don't believe there are significant consequences that are going to affect all farms. I've said that it's a matter for each farm as to how these…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
So, the hard-to-reach farmers, of course, like any group, are, as you say, hard to reach, so I don't think that's just a matter for Welsh Government; I think others have to look at how we reach hard-to-reach farmers. We have some farmers who aren't members of…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
So, we're working those windows up now to open in the very near future, so we will be making another announcement. I mean, just off the top of my head, as I said, I think I gave you £40 million-worth of funding that's taken place over the past few years. We…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
It's okay, I heard you, yes. So, again, I go back to what I was saying: there is lots of support there for farmers. So, maybe NRW—they certainly can liaise with NRW, but please contact Farming Connect, because that support and advice is there. And we also get…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
We've given far more than £35 million. I think just in the last three years, we gave more than £40 million, and that's been made available directly to farmers to reduce pollution and to support the necessary changes that they think they have to bring forward…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
So, I'm just trying to think what the wording is—it is around 'deployment' and 'targeting'. So, those discussions I've been having with Cefin Campbell, who is the designated Member, to see—. We're working very closely together. But this is an all-Wales…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Of course, if anybody is suffering with mental health issues because of policy, that is a matter of concern. However, I go back to what I said—these regulations are very, very similar to what was in place before. And what I would urge people to do is come…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Well, as I say, there is the review in four years' time, when it will be for everyone involved then to have a look. But we will have such a huge amount of evidence and data in those four years that we would be able to do that. But there's no point—. You can't…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I don't accept that, of course not, because that's the complete opposite of what we're trying to do. And, again, I go back to what I was saying to Vikki Howells—it's really important we are able to review them, and, obviously, within the regulations, we will…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Not looking into because I think it's a very similar approach to what we've got. So, in Scotland, they're the same; they have mandatory regulatory measures, not voluntary measures. I think many of the measures that they have in Scotland are very similar—in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I think, when I last discussed it with NRW, which is probably over a year ago now, 60 was the figure they gave to me. In their discussions with the Minister for Climate Change, I don't know if that's increased, but, certainly, I haven't had that discussion…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thank you very much. So, obviously, I do have discussions with Julie James, the Minister for Climate Change—she's the one I work most closely with, although obviously there is cross-Government interest in this policy. I know that the Minister has been…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Morning.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thank you, Luke. So, the draft regulations, which were obviously published for scrutiny, didn't contain a derogation, and then the supplementary papers referred to the potential of a derogation in the future. So, the provisions of regulation 45, as I've…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Morning.
