, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Economy
Thank you, Chair. Yes Minister—that's all a bit Dutch to me, I'm afraid. But, no, I do know what it is. With regard to sectoral and regional support, Minister, can you set out when the retail delivery plan will be published, and clarify whether there will be…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes. Anything that you can share with us subsequently, we would be very grateful. Thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay. But specifically on the point in terms of Monmouth and the overnight stays and the cost of that.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I sometimes try to be sensible—thank you. It's not often. [Laughter.]
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Coming back to your point around the animal health and welfare framework group and Monmouthshire County Council's involvement. In Pembrokeshire, we've got two ports and, at present, Monmouthshire animal health team inspectors are coming…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
That’s helpful. Thank you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Yes, I agree with you, and I’ve raised that point before, that the best way to save money on TB is to eradicate TB, and I don’t think there’s any disagreement there. But in terms of monitoring the new strategy when it comes forward in March, yes, ensuring it…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Diolch, Gadeirydd. Bovine TB. So, how is the budget for bovine TB amended or changed, and how does it reflect the new strategy due next year?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay. That's a helpful explanation. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
And then, in terms of the impact this has had on APHA, and APHA's resourcing to look at this, despite the few birds culled in Wales, because of the biosecurity element of it, it will still have an impact on APHA. You've mentioned that in discussing it in the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Sorry, just taking from that point, then, given that only 36 commercial birds have been culled, could it be the basis, then, that because the issue could be so prevalent in another constituent part of the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom as a whole could…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Is that due to the migration of birds?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Excellent. Apologies, I've got another set of questions around avian flu now, given that I've asked questions on this in the Chamber as well. The last time I asked you, Minister, you mentioned the inter-governmental meeting that your colleague Julie James…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
If not, can we get a copy—?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I would argue, given that it's got a higher prevalence in the future schemes, that it's had a financial increase—its contract is now worth more.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
How much is that new contract?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Moving on to Farming Connect, it's often held up as a great example of Welsh Government involvement with farming. I've heard fantastic stories, case studies from those who've used Farming Connect and, unfortunately, one or two where they found it not…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
As you are making a statement on sheep scab further on, and sheep scab disposal of chemicals comes in under the charges that are increased, I think this could have a negative effect on animal health in terms of sheep scab, and that's something that I'll—…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Four thousand per cent—
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Just following on, then, from my question on the business statement earlier this week around Natural Resources Wales, knowing it's not in your portfolio, but the letter in which you responded to me before Christmas on the increase of prices. Given NRW's…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
In terms of the £8.9 million reprioritisation from the rural economic and sustainability programme budget expenditure line, why was this particular BEL deprioritised and what will not be funded as a result?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
What are the internal checks and balances that will be available on that?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I know that, Minister, you're making a statement on BVD and sheep scab in the coming weeks, and as someone who's done the BVD test at home with cattle—so I'll declare that interest—helping my father, I think it has been good, and that has helped. My concern…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
When RDP, that European spending round, comes to an end this year, how much money is left unspent?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Government Draft Budget - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I'm interested about your discussions there on BPS. I will focus on the rural development plan, but your Government moved the maximum amount of money away from BPS to pillar 2 funding; had you not done that, that money would have been there to support…
