Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:48 pm on 19 September 2018.
Thank you, Llywydd, and may I refer Members to my register of interests, which is pertinent to this topic? May I start by regretting the language used by UKIP in their motion, as we've heard? It is an inflammatory start to a debate that many of us have been trying to encourage in a constructive and positive manner over the last few years. I think it’s entirely irresponsible to present the argument using the language that you have used. There is far more consensus and common ground between farmers and environmentalists than, clearly, you believe to be the case.
So, it’ll be no surprise to you that Plaid Cymru recommends in our amendment that we delete all of the motion. But, of course, in our amendment we do highlight the importance of upland sheep farms as a crucial part of our Welsh economy. But, of course, we also highlight the dangers of leaving the single market and the customs union, and the undoubted damage that that will do to upland farms. It’s not just sheep that will have left the uplands in years to come. As a result of Brexit, it’s possible that people will also be leaving the uplands, because of the impact that it will have on the viability of family farms in Wales. We’ve heard the stats in many debates in this Chamber: 96 per cent of Welsh lamb is exported to the European Union; talk of export tariffs that will be introduced and will have a negative impact. That is why Plaid Cymru has been clear and consistent that we want to retain our membership and status within the single market, and, indeed, the best way to do that is to remain within the European Union. But, if we are to leave and lose our membership of the single market, then, clearly, we need robust measures to safeguard the interests of agriculture in Wales, particularly our upland farms.