Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:55 pm on 4 June 2019.
May I thank the Minister for her statement this afternoon? Clearly, we will need to look in detail at the supplementary documents that have also been published today before we can come to a full conclusion on some of the changes that the Minister has referred to. Clearly, much of the detail will be contained within the consultation, which will appear next month, so we look forward to seeing that.
But on the face of it, I think the tone of this statement strikes a more constructive note than has been the case in the past. I refer specifically to the fact that you say that you will co-design the practical aspects of the plan. It’s a shame that we didn't have co-design of the policy from the very outset, perhaps, but the fact that that is going to happen now, I think, is a step in the right direction.
I would appreciate more clarity this afternoon from you, for example, on any commitment in terms of active farmers. There is a line in one of the supplementary documents that says that there will be more emphasis on them. And can you confirm to us that it's only active farmers that will be able to access the support that we're discussing under any new scheme? The impact this will have on tenants has also been something that’s been central to much of the responses, and there’s also a reference to that, so can you confirm this afternoon that tenants will have access to all sources of support that will be provided by this scheme?
You recognise, of course, that there is uncertainty emerging from what will happen as a result of Brexit, but you only recognise that in your statement in relation to the timetable. Now, surely, all of the confusion around Brexit undermines any work that you will do over the next few months, because until we know what the outcome of Brexit is, then we can't know, essentially, what kind of landscape or what kind of context the agricultural industry in Wales will be working within. That will make it extremely difficult to ensure that any new schemes are appropriate and do respond to the needs of the sector. So, I am concerned. You say that it’s important that we get this right, but on the other hand you say that there are so many unknowns. I do struggle to bring those two things together and to have confidence that this process will lead to an outcome that will benefit the sector in Wales, because this is a change that shouldn't be made lightly. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make these changes, as you've acknowledged, and if we get it wrong, then the upshot will be very grave indeed.