Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 17 July 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:53, 17 July 2019

So, let's start with the beginning, shall we? I certainly don't blame farmers. There is no blame culture coming from me. What I've always said, and what they agree with, is that we work in partnership. So, we work in partnership to address many of the problems that the agricultural sector are facing, and TB is one of them where I think we have to work in partnership. I do not blame them for the beef prices. I do not blame them for asking for every tool to be used. What I do rule out is a badger cull, because the science, for me, is not there. Nothing I have seen since I've been in this post for three years makes me think that a badger cull in the style that they do in England would be beneficial here in Wales.

In relation to 'no deal' Brexit, this Government has been working to mitigate the impact of a 'no deal' Brexit for months. We were ready when we thought that was going to be at the end of March. That was then delayed until 12 April, and it's now delayed till 31 October. What we've taken the time to do is pause and reflect on and review and refine all the policies and proposals and projects that we had in place ready for the end of March. However, things could be different at the end of October. So, if you think of the sheep sector, for instance, clearly, if we'd come out at the end of March, the impact it would have had on the sheep sector would have been serious; at the end of October, it goes to another scale, and I'm sure you will understand that.

Will we pause the consultation? No, we won't pause the consultation. The consultation is due to finish on 30 October. The significant work that's been undertaken to bring that consultation forward—a 400 page, very detailed consultation document—that is now out there, and there's now about 14 or 15 weeks for people to respond to it. Next week, certainly, at the Royal Welsh Show, and at all the agricultural shows, I'm sure there will be lots of discussions. I think I'm doing at least three events next week in relation to the consultation. But, no, we won't be taking people off it, because, if you think about it, a significant amount of work has already been done.