, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I don't think it's one or the other—I think it's to enable us with net zero. There are lots of ways of storing carbon, as you know—you've got sink, you've got store—and we need to work through the carbon sequestration as well. But, as I say, I don't think…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
It's obviously to help us with our net zero obligations, but also we want farmers to look at the advantages that additional tree planting would have on their farm. We've discussed it in relation to animal health and welfare: if animals can keep cool under the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
It was 2035 for the hedgerows and the need to better manage existing hedgerows. That was another piece of advice. So, I think it's really not a choice between the two—I think we need to bring the balance together now. I want our farmers to be right in the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
What the CCC advice included was the reference to achieve annual tree planting rates of at least 4,500 hectares per year by 2030, so that's where the 43,000 comes from. Then it needed to rise to 7,500 by 2035, then we've got agroforestry to plant trees on 2…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
You'll be aware of the advice we received from the UK Climate Change Committee that we needed 43,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030. That is the target. Those best placed to help us with that target are our farmers. So, that was where the 10 per cent came…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Absolutely. This is part of doing something different, doing something bespoke for Wales. You've heard me talk again about our wonderful countryside; that's because our farmers provide it. So, obviously it provides recreational benefits to the public, and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
You will be aware that the proposal of SFS is to provide an annual universal baseline payment for them to carry out a set of universal actions. We want those universal actions to be delivered by all farms across Wales and go above and beyond what's required…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I think so. Absolutely. I absolutely think that.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
However, we're in the last week, and we all know, don't we, that we all leave things to the last minute, and you always get a rush of responses in the last week. So, it could be that this will be the biggest consultation response we've had in agriculture…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, I don't know about unprecedented responses. The last time I asked, we hadn't had an unprecedented number of responses—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I can definitely assure you of that. Obviously, the consultation hasn't closed yet. I'll ask Gian Marco to say a little bit more now, but Gian Marco was one of the officials that attended many of the roadshows that we held, the farmers' roadshows, and after…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, I think they've heard that message very clearly. I hope everybody's absolutely taken that in, because I've said it repeatedly. I've never done a consultation that isn't meaningful, as Minister, ever. You have to show people that that's the case and I…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Wow. Gosh. I wasn't expecting that question. I think, for me, food and drink has been a massive achievement—not just for me, obviously, but for the whole of Wales. So, I've been very, very fortunate to have visited—. I remember going out to Gulfood, I've been…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny: Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Diolch. I'm Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd. On my left is Richard Irvine, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, and, on my right, is Gian Marco Currado, the director of rural affairs in Welsh Government.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Bovine TB
I thought it was March 2023, but I'll be happy to check that. The group will play a crucial role in the first milestone view of our 2023 TB eradication plan later this year, for example. As Members are aware, yesterday, offers of appointment to the bovine TB…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Bovine TB
Diolch, Llywydd, and I'm pleased to respond to the motion tabled by Plaid Cymru on this very important issue. I'd like to begin by saying my thoughts are with all of those farmers, their families and staff who are suffering the devastating impact of bovine TB…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Bovine TB
Formally.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
So that all farms are able to successfully enhance the woodlands on their farms. I would like to reiterate my calls for all those with an interest in the future of farming to take part in the consultation. In saying that, I want to refer to Peter Fox's…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
One of the things we need to look at—. I appreciate that it's been very frustrating for farmers not to have modelling done around the payments that they will receive for the sustainable farming scheme, and that's the point, Russell George, that I'm trying to…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
—with payment to reward farmers for the social value they realise, as part of rural communities, in addition to the income they earn selling produce in the market. Of course. Sorry.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
The UK Government has indicated that it intends to prioritise tax cuts and will cut unprotected budget areas, including farm funding, in order to deliver them. That is what the Conservatives offer to farmers: empty promises in public, while privately pursuing…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
Of course.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’m pleased to be able to respond to the motion tabled by the Welsh Conservatives. The Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 was unanimously passed by this Senedd. The Act reflects our shared commitment to securing a…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Sustainable Farming Scheme
Formally.
