I move the amendment tabled in my name. The decision by the people of Britain to leave the European Union last year will have a significant impact on rural communities across Wales, as well as the industries that are based on rural communities. As we all know, rural Wales is home to 33 per cent of the Welsh population and the vitality and future of those communities must be placed firmly on the agenda of the Welsh Government. It is therefore essential, as we leave the EU, that the powers to better support rural Wales are transferred directly to this Senedd.

I fully accept that there is a need to do much more work on the UK Government Bill that deals with exiting the European Union, so as to ensure that the existing powers of this place are safeguarded and that the responsibility for devolved matters entirely lies here and not elsewhere. Indeed, I hope that the intergovernmental negotiations that will take place to repatriate powers from Brussels will devolve greater powers to this place so as to provide better support to rural communities. This would confer even more resources and responsibilities on the Welsh Government, and as a result, the Government should bring forward policies that address the specific challenges facing rural Wales.

Of course, a central part of our rural communities is the agriculture sector, and as Britain leaves the European Union, the Welsh Government has an excellent opportunity to examine the current regulatory landscape for farmers and establish better ways of supporting farmers. Exiting the European Union means that we now have the opportunity to revamp the regulatory burdens for Welsh farmers to ensure that more voluntary means are adopted, and that when regulations are introduced, they are introduced because of clear evidence. It is absolutely essential that the level of support available to Welsh farmers puts them on a level playing field with their competitors, and that is why establishing a permanent agricultural framework on a British level is so important.

Of course, today’s debate is not only about the impact of Brexit on agriculture; it is also about the provision of services in rural areas. The Welsh Government must recognise that having one governance model for all of Wales is completely unacceptable, and that the needs of rural communities are very different from those of urban communities.

In my constituency, we have seen a number of important health services at the local hospital shut down and centralised, forcing patients to travel further for treatments and services. This is completely unacceptable and shows no regard whatsoever for the wishes and needs of those living in rural communities in west Wales. Even as we debate these issues this afternoon, Hywel Dda health board is again consulting on the removal of services in Pembrokeshire; in this case, it is seeking to centralise mental health services.

As Britain prepares to leave the EU, there is now an opportunity for the Welsh Government to pause and rethink the way it manages the delivery of services in rural areas. Unfortunately, since 1999, 227 schools across Wales have closed, with rural areas being worst affected. Government figures themselves tell us that 41 schools have been closed in north Wales since devolution. Although I accept the current Cabinet Secretary for Education is finally strengthening measures to protect schools, this will be of no comfort to those communities that have lost their schools and who have lost a vital community hub. These services provide a vital link for rural towns and villages, and they help to deliver much needed services, as well as tying communities together.

Members will be aware that we on this side of the Chamber are still calling for an independent panel to be set up, comprising representatives of rural communities and industries across Wales, which are much better placed to scrutinise the impact of Welsh Government policies on local environments, in order to ensure that Welsh Government policies do not negatively impact rural communities. I hope that the Government will now consider this. The Welsh Government must send a clear message to rural communities that they will have parity with urban parts of the country in terms of the development and funding of policies.

Today’s motion explains that Brexit could lead to significant opportunities for rural Wales, but it fails to recognise that there are significant challenges as well. The Welsh Government needs to better engage with rural Wales to meet those challenges. So, in closing, Presiding Officer, I wish to reiterate the importance of our rural communities, not only to our economy but also our culture. The Welsh language is is an integral part of our rural communities and our rural economy. For example, we know that agriculture has the highest proportion of Welsh speakers of any sector. Therefore, it is essential that the Welsh Government does much more to support our rural communities. The Government must use current and new levers to secure the future of our rural communities, and I urge Members to support our amendment.