Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Well, it says it all, doesn’t it? For the first time in 15 years, the Conservatives are pleased to congratulate the Labour Government on their actions, but they will be known through their actions, of course.

A week, of course, is a long time in politics, but in this case, a week and two days have passed since the finance Secretary visited the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee at this Assembly, claiming there that the Welsh Government hadn’t been able to reach agreement with the UK Government on amendments to clause 11 in the EU withdrawal Bill. But, less than 24 hours later, we had a personal statement from the Cabinet Secretary confirming that the Government had reached agreement. Since that point, of course, the implications of that agreement for rural communities particularly, which will be the focus of my contribution over the next few minutes, have emerged.

Since the result of the referendum in June 2016, of course, the Welsh Government has made a number of policy statements relating to the future of agriculture, including ensuring that Welsh farmers would receive every penny that they currently receive following Brexit. Just a fortnight ago, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs said that the Government has a unique opportunity to reformulate our agricultural policy in relation to a unique and integrated Welsh approach to our economy, our society and our natural environment. But of course, following this agreement, well, there’s total confusion about that now, and the ability of the Welsh Government to deliver the ambition that she has been espousing.

For example, the Minister of the UK Government for agriculture, George Eustice, confirmed yesterday at the Welsh Affairs Select Committee that it’s the UK Government that will decide how much funding will be available to farmers, reliant on the comprehensive spending review of the Government, including, of course, how it will be distributed across the United Kingdom. Now, immediately, farmers have made it clear that they are concerned that if that happens, we may be moving to a three-year cycle rather than a seven-year cycle, as was the case under CAP. There are questions as to their ability to plan in the long term for an industry that is reliant on substantial capital investment and an industry whose strategic management is reliant on the seasons; you can’t change direction overnight or in a cycle as short as three years, very often. And if it is reliant on the CSR, then that funding will compete with all of the other priorities. We’ve already heard the question asked as to how high on the agenda of the UK Government Welsh hill farmers will be when it comes to these issues. Farming, of course, represents a larger proportion of the Welsh economy than that of the other nations of the United Kingdom, and therefore, the risk is greater of being adversely affected.

There is nothing in the agreement between Labour and the Conservatives that gives me confidence that the Welsh voice will be strengthened in these negotiation processes on the future of the agricultural industry. And if we are in any doubt as to what has happened here, then the letter from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster—I wasn’t going to try and translate that—has made it entirely clear that unless consent is given by the devolved Parliaments or Governments, then the UK Parliament will approve them in any case. It’s in black and white, so there can be no confusion about this. This Government is gambling with the future of rural Wales in order to assuage its unionist tendencies, in my view.

The question I would ask is: what assessment has the Government made of the impact of this agreement on the well-being of future generations Act? As someone who was involved in the scrutiny of that Act, this is a central organising principle—that was the line—for the public sector in Wales, and policies such as agriculture, the environment and public procurement are expected to meet the requirements of that piece of legislation. There are questions in my mind as to where we go, in that regard, and perhaps we can have some clarity from the First Minister. Where does that leave us in terms of anti-GM policy, in terms of hormone-pumped beef that could be imported into this country; chlorinated chicken, following a possible agreement with Donald Trump; and changes to animal welfare regulations and so on and so forth?

Finally, as the clock is ticking, it’s not just Labour who are part of the administration that has come to an agreement. Unfortunately, the Cabinet Secretary for Education isn’t in her seat, but I would like to know what the view of the Welsh Liberal Democrats is on this issue. Are they, as Labour are, siding with the Conservatives and UKIP, or are they with the Liberal Democrats of Scotland? I think we need to know exactly where they stand.

And to close, Labour knows—you do know—that when UKIP and the Conservatives are queuing up to congratulate you on doing something, you know that you’ve either been conned, or you’ve made a mistake. The sad truth here is that it’s the people of Wales who will pay the price.