Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:13 pm on 29 November 2017.
I think Brexit—it's a massive issue. It's really threatening our industry and I think it's causing a great deal of uncertainty. It is obviously for the UK Government to have those trade discussions and bring forward a trade deal. However, we've made it very clear to the UK Government the shape that we think these negotiations and these discussions need to take.
I think everybody accepts—I'm sure, even on this side of the house—that the political situation we've got at the moment is creating a lot of tension. We are having those ongoing discussions. Obviously, the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and I primarily are having discussions around trade, and what tariffs will be imposed. You're quite right: I'm really fearful for the lamb sector, and some of our scenario planning is of great concern. We also know that the British Retail Consortium has suggested that, without a new trade agreement, if the UK and EU imposed WTO tariffs, the average cost of food imported by retailers could increase by 22 per cent.