, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes, so, as you know—I was going to say at the start of this term of Government, but it was probably six months into the term of Government—I announced an entire animal welfare plan for the whole term of Government, so for the five-year term of this Welsh…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes, it has been raised with me, because we know that it can exist in that slurry for, I think, up to six months. So, it is something that we've been talking about in relation to pollution regulations. So, it's something we can, obviously, look at more…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
—with the rural investment scheme.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I think it started—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, as you know, we've not long finished the consultation on one aspect of the regulations, and I'll be bringing forward some further information—where are we now—probably by the end of this month, because, as you know, obviously, the timescale is very…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
No, I'm waiting for advice as to whether it will, or what the advice is to me as to whether we should do that or not.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I'm waiting for advice from officials as to what we do in relation to Glastir. I met with both the farming unions last week and this was something I discussed with them. Obviously, like me, they don't want that cliff edge. I can't give you a timescale—I will…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I think, just—. Is there a specific—? Well, we're not looking at having a replacement rural development programme in the way that we have had an RDP. As you know, we've got the rural investment scheme, and I just think, at the moment, there isn't a need for…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
No, it hasn't, and I've changed my mind; I won't be having an advisory board.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The main reason was that officials were having to work on the avian influenza outbreak, which, as you know, we didn't have any respite from. Also, I thought it was really important that I have input into that statement from the new chief veterinary officer…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, the horticultural sector here in Wales is quite small. It was about 1 per cent of the entire agricultural sector that was horticulture. I was really pleased to hear from Gian Marco a couple of days ago that we're approaching 3 per cent now, so it shows…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes, unfortunately, we've seen a significant rise in the support that foodbanks are having to give our constituents right across Wales, and you'll be aware of the significant work that we did in relation to foodbanks, giving extra support during the COVID-19…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. Well, we've certainly seen a perfect storm this year, haven't we, with the cost-of-living crisis, food inflation—prices have been more high, higher than ever before. So, we've had some real issues that we've had to contend with. So, food supply is…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
As you say, UKIMA is causing all sorts of difficulties. What was interesting—I think it was the first piece of work that the Office for the Internal Market did—was DEFRA made a request to them to do a report on this. I know—I think it was just a couple of…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I don't, at the moment. Officials are working closely with DEFRA officials to try and get that proposed timeline for the professional sector. I will ask Gian Marco if he's got any information around the timeline, but I don't, I'm afraid.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, again, I'm working with the UK Government. They're going to introduce primary legislation and we're going to work with them on that so that that primary legislation will cover both England and Wales, but what it will do is include powers for Welsh…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes, I think that's probably the most likely thing. We are working very closely with the UK Government on next steps to implement that ban, so I think it is likely that that will happen at the same time as England, yes.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
That's right. So, back in December, I announced the retail sale of peat in horticulture will end in Wales. That included bagged compost as well, and peat in plant pots, for instance. You will be aware there was a public consultation, and I have to say the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I think it would be good to have some common organic standards, and, certainly, if you look at other areas where we've worked very closely across the UK since leaving the European Union—. The agriculture Bill, for instance, that you referred to in your…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
No, not really, because, obviously, what we're waiting for is the expert group to advise us. So, it's all in motion, but I think we have to go through the process. So, the expert group's recommendations will, obviously, have a significant impact on our policy…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, we—. As I say, we are working to it. It's probably best if I update Members once the expert group's in place. I think, once the expert group's in place, maybe things will shuffle along a little bit quicker than they have been, but we're certainly…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
That is the timetable we're working to, but you would want me to be honest with you, and I think it's highly unlikely. They're very complex regulations, and, as I say, currently, the expert group is being brought together. The Department for the Environment…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you, Chair. The organic regulations are due to be reviewed, following equivalent regulations in the European Union being updated, and obviously a lot of our legislation not just in Wales, but across Great Britain, is still very much entrenched in…
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. Obviously, this will be a decision for the Minister for Economy, who will update Senedd Members with a statement in due course.
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. I wasn't aware of the change from six weeks to 16 weeks and, as you say, I would've thought there would be an all-Wales standard. So, I will certainly ask the health Minister to look at what you've just come forward with, because I do think there…
