, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. The UK Government's Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill proposed prohibiting the keeping, breeding, sale and transfer of primates without specific licence. I supported its provisions in full and I'm extremely frustrated it's been dismantled.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. We're not having a replacement RDP programme, because I'm not sure what funding I'm going to get from the UK Government, and, as you know, our big scheme will be the sustainable farming scheme, and it's really important that every farm is able to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay, I'll repeat it again: I cannot spend the money; I have allocated the money. I have overallocated the money, and I've done everything I can—[Interruption.] It's now up to the—[Interruption.] Do you want to listen? Good. It's up to the beneficiaries…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
This isn't money that's just slopping around. All this money has been committed, plus I have overcommitted, as you referred to. I don't think you were in the Chamber when I answered three questions from Sam Kurtz on the RDP and the Audit Wales report that you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government has until 31 December 2023 to fully spend all of its EU funding, which I remain fully committed to achieving. I was pleased to see Audit Wales recognise the steps we have taken to overcommit our available funding in order to maximise…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I certainly haven't had complaints from the agricultural sector that if they diversify they would then feel they were being punished. I think it's nearly 50 per cent now of non-micro farms across Wales that have had some diversification action, so I think you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government offers a range of support to assist agricultural businesses to diversify. The subsidised advice, mentoring and training provided by Farming Connect complements our grant schemes. Alongside our dedicated diversification grant, our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. As I say, we've done an incredible amount of work in relation to this Bill, because, contrary to what Sam Rowlands has just mentioned, and Andrew RT Davies tweets about, we don't have to do things differently. [Interruption.] About being…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. I am extremely frustrated and disappointed with the UK Government’s decision to dismantle the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, and I've written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing my frustration. My…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I saw the article on the BBC that I think the Member is referring to, where otters were returning to the River Cynon following that clean-up that you referred to. Certainly, in north Wales, I've been invited to go and view an area where otters have returned…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government is committed to restoring freshwater habitats. We have put in place new regulations, supported with funding and advice, to ensure we reduce losses of pollutants from agriculture to the environment. We are building nature networks…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. I don't disagree with anything you say about our agricultural shows—they are absolutely part of the fabric Wales, and I too enjoy attending many of them across Wales. The significant amount of funding, obviously, goes to the Royal Welsh Show, which…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. Welsh Government works closely with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations to support the development of the agricultural show sector across the whole of Wales.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Unfortunately, I can't give that assurance today. As we know, I extended Glastir contracts for a further year, which will take us up to the end of this year. I'm awaiting advice on what we do in relation to next year. Obviously, we're looking at the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, we are certainly seeing the impacts of climate change, aren’t we? I was reflecting, because I remember a Royal Welsh Show—it’s probably about five years ago now—where we were in a very similar position. We all know what the temperatures at last year’s…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I’m very pleased you were able to attend the Regen '23 event at Sealands Farm. I’m looking forward to visiting Sealands Farm, I hope before summer recess, or certainly as we just go into summer recess, because I’ve heard of the excellent work that’s being…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, again, I will repeat what I’ve said many times in the Chamber, what lessons were learned, and it’s really important lessons are learned; I’m not dismissing that at all. The findings of the 2020 Audit Wales report have already been addressed, so we’ve…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I'm just as confident as the last time I was asked this question. It seems a lot of opposition Members are constantly asking me how confident I am about it. You mentioned a figure. Over £765 million of the total programme spend has now been spent; there's…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, I see you're copying your leader. I noticed his tweet about doing things differently. It's not in my portfolio—it's in the portfolio of the Minister for Climate Change—but it previously was in my portfolio when we first went out to consultation about a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh food and drink industry continues to go from strength to strength, growing in both scale and reputation. Welsh Government is promoting food in north Wales through our food festivals, which include Gŵyl Fwyd Caernarfon, Wrexham Food Festival, Menai…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
[Inaudible.]—a significant amount of work and certainly, within my own portfolio, we've looked at land classification of agricultural land, because, as you say, it's very important that, as far as possible, it's protected for sustainable food production and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. I'm very sorry to hear about the experience of the Jenkins family. Clearly, tenant farmers are very important to us in Wales. A significant percentage of our farmers here in Wales are tenant farmers. There is obviously protection for tenants; they…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
A team Wales approach is taken to protect and manage wildlife. Welsh Government has recently provided over £1 million for projects in the Vale of Glamorgan, to deliver nature-based projects, enable partnership working and improve connections between nature…
, Plenary
Motion to vary the order of consideration of Report Stage amendments to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill
Formally.
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. As you say, it's good to see—. I can see you've got your badge on, recognising the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the work that they undertake. And the Minister for Health and Social Services has made it very clear to health boards her expectations…
