Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 3 October 2018.
Well, I think I've made my views very clear that we will obviously continue to support the red meat industry. I don't share the pessimistic view of many people around the issues that you've just raised, but I do think it is now time that we sorted out the red meat levy. As you said, you've been a Member here seven years; I've been a Member here 11 years, and it's been an ongoing issue. But we've obviously had an interim solution that has allowed some progress in this area, but I think this is the first agricultural Bill for probably 40-plus years. I think this was a real opportunity to be able to address this issue and, as I said, in my opening answer to you, I was very disappointed it wasn't on the face of the Bill. I've had a couple of discussions with Michael Gove to ensure that it's a Government amendment, because at one time I heard it could be a backbench amendment, and I don't think that would be appropriate. I think a Government amendment is the very least that we should see on the UK Agriculture Bill now around this issue.