5. Will the First Minister provide an update on Natural Resources Wales's review into shooting on land that it manages? OAQ52335

Yes. I can say to the Member that NRW is still considering the responses from the consultation and Welsh Ministers will need to fully consider any proposals that NRW produce. 

Thank you for that reply. There's been understandable concern regarding the tender for the review of evidence into NRW's shooting review. I understand that only one application was received and that one of the two academics employed to carry out the work is a self-admitted shooting enthusiast. I understand that NRW is, of course, an arm's-length body, but I and others have concern over the fairness of how this review has been conducted in light of that which I've just explained. Polling shows that there is a clear move against having shooting on Welsh Government land, and I was wondering whether you would be committed in future such reviews to ensure that they are transparent and that people can hold the Government to account, because I feel that it's failed in this regard because people perhaps have not had the trust that they've wanted in this particular review because of the potential conflict of interest that one of the academics has.

The Member raises an issue of which I'm not aware. Could I ask the Cabinet Secretary then to write to her to provide her with the reassurance that she would need?FootnoteLink Obviously, it's a matter that needs addressing in more detail.

Information further to Plenary

First Minister, for my part, I'm quite relaxed about this, because there were 19 experts involved in this process on behalf of NRW, starting from the economist, senior statistician, wildlife management, their ornithologist, woodland and spatial ecologists, recreation, health and well-being team leader—. I won't read out all 19. Where I do have a real concern is that I believe that NRW have probably reached a position that they've put forward that is based on expert advice and opinion; however, there is also a very large petition that has been brought forward with a large number of signatures, a great number of whom appear to be from outside of Wales. My question to you is this: having had the first part of this consultation so rigorously put in place by NRW, are we able to apply the same rigour to those who might petition us from outside of our country as to what we should be doing in our country, and on our land, and by our people?

Well, those are matters, really, for the Commission in terms of the petition system, but I hear what she says. As far as we're concerned as Government, obviously NRW will be guided by its consultation and we are then guided by the views of NRW and, of course, looking at the consultation itself. So, the petition system is one thing, but it's not formally part, of course, of Government consultation.

Vikki Howells.

Diolch, Llywydd. Sorry—.

Okay, we'll move on.

Question 6—Jenny Rathbone.