Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative Party spokesperson, Andrew R.T. Davies.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you will obviously be aware, as all Members and the general public are aware, of the disruptions at the heart of Cardiff centre today and yesterday and the day before. One of the accusations that the protesters have put against governments of all colours, but in particular here, is that the governments are not taking enough action on the agenda on climate change, and residents, obviously, are at the brunt of the disruption that's being caused. What would your message be to residents of Cardiff who have been disrupted, because the protestors are levelling that accusation against your Government?

The protesters haven't tried to engage with me directly, but, previously, officials have met with some members of them, so I'm very aware of the protest that is going on.

I think the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael, highlighted the issues: it's about a balance—it's about a balance in the protection of the right to a peaceful protest, but of course, it's not allowing things to go too far in terms of disrupting the lives of ordinary people. So, I think it is very important to recognise that. 

As a Government, I believe that just declaring the climate emergency and seeing how that galvanised local authorities, town councils, individuals and businesses into action shows that we take this very seriously, and the level of work we are doing—. We're doing a huge amount of work in this area. I would encourage the protestors, for instance, to read the low-carbon delivery plan, which sets out those 100 policies and proposals as to what we intend to do over the coming years.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. I think quite a few residents, if not many residents and businesses, would be surprised that the protesters have not engaged with you at all, given that their explicit request is obviously that Government achieves more in this particular area, and so, instead of protesting and blocking roads, perhaps engagement is a far better way of protesting in this instance. 

But it is a fair accusation to lay at the Government's door. When the current First Minister was campaigning, he said he'd bring a clean air Act forward, and, in response to questions from the leader of the opposition back in May, he indicated that you and he had had a discussion on this and that Welsh Government were working up proposals in this particular area. Regrettably, yesterday, in the legislative statement, we did see no announcement at all in this particular area. Two thousand lives a year are taken prematurely in Wales—five a day, Minister. Action is required in this area, so when protesters say they're not seeing action, do you not see that, in this particular area, there is a lack of action and a lack of urgency from the Welsh Government?

No, I don't. I'm not sure if the Member was in the Chamber when I made a statement on clean air just, I think, a fortnight ago—

I responded.

If you responded to it, then you'll know what I said, and you'll know that I said we will be going out to consultation in the autumn. Depending on the responses, that will then feed into a possible plan and Bill.

Well, with respect, the First Minister, in his legislative statement yesterday, made no mention of this at all. Given that we've only got about 18 months of this Assembly term left, it's quite clear that the Government will not be legislating in this particular area. And as I've said, given the urgency in this area—2,000 premature deaths; five a day—surely, that has to be one of the top priorities of the Government to make progress in this area.

But the other point that needs to be addressed here is that, obviously, all the announcements that Welsh Government have made this term, in particular around the climate emergency and the way that we're going to progress to zero carbon emissions by 2050—supported from these benches—require a dialogue with business and enterprise across the length and breadth of Wales. If you take Port Talbot steelworks, for example, 15 per cent of Wales's carbon emissions comes from Port Talbot steelworks. It's critical that businesses have confidence that the journey that they are going to have to undertake can be achieved and Government will be supporting them. Will you commit to launching an economic summit with Ken Skates, the economy Minister, to engage with business, call them around the table, so that a clear plan of action that is costed and understood can be brought forward, rather than the rhetoric that we're hearing from the protesters at the moment, which is saying that there just simply is not enough happening in this area and the battle for hearts and minds is in danger of being lost on this important agenda?

So, I've already attended the economic council that is chaired by my colleague Ken Skates at the invitation of businesses to discuss how they can help us respond to the climate emergency that we declared, and also how we can get to net zero by 2050, which is our ambition, going further than the UK Committee on Climate Change advised us to do. So, if it's something that businesses would like us to do, then I'm sure Ken Skates and I would be happy to do it, but I have to say I was very pleased to be invited to the economic council at the request of businesses, because they see that, if we are going to achieve those net zero reductions, they are a big part in helping us do it.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Llyr Gruffydd.

Minister, you will be aware, of course, that there are a number of factors currently having a negative impact on the beef sector as it currently stands, with major concerns about prices and the impact of the stockpiling that happened in the expectation that Brexit would happen earlier, and that's now hitting the market and having an impact on the viability of what's being produced here in Wales.

Now, there have been demands for the Welsh Government and Hybu Cig Cymru, processors and retailers to come together in order to work with the industry to tackle some of these problems. Beef farmers in Ireland, of course, will see €100 million being directed towards them through the European Commission and the Irish Government, so may I ask what you as a Government intend to do to respond to the situation faced by the sector?

Well, I'm not aware of having a request for us all to come together, but you'll be very aware that, next week, we'll be at the Royal Welsh Show, where all the people that you've just mentioned can come together to discuss this. I've seen the press release from National Farmers Union Cymru. I've also had a discussion, very briefly, with NFU Cymru on this issue. Farming is an industry where market changes are commonplace, but the beef sector has experienced a really turbulent time, I think, over the past few months and, clearly, lower prices are a concern. So, I'm very happy to discuss this with anybody who has an interest in it. As I say, we'll all be in the same place next week, so maybe that will be the opportunity to do so.

You mentioned Ireland, and, obviously, the Republic of Ireland, the prices are low in a historic context and the evidence does suggest that the uncertainty of our exit from the European Union is harming Irish beef producers too, and I know their prices have been consistently low, but I think there is a parity there at the moment that we haven't seen before.

I think people would have expected you to have been a little more proactive than saying that you're available to have discussions if people feel those discussions are necessary. In Ireland, they've gone out of their way to find this money, so I do think that that does perhaps suggest what the Government's attitude is to the situation as it currently exists.

One other area where people feel you should be more proactive is in tackling TB in cattle. We've seen the statistics, of course. We know that there was an increase last year—12,000 cattle were culled in Wales—that's 12,000 in Wales last year. Now, that's a statistic, of course, but, underneath those statistics, we know that there is an economic impact on those businesses and on the rural economy more broadly as a result of TB. There is a social impact, as we see the disease spreading further than anyone would wish to see it spread. And, of course, there is a personal impact, and that very often highlights itself in terms of mental health problems. Now, this, again, will be the subject of debate at the Royal Welsh Show next week. But one element that impacts a number of people in the sector is the feeling that Government isn't using every tool possible to tackle this disease. Hasn't the time now come, Minister, in light of the situation as it currently exists, for this Government to step up and to be willing to introduce a stronger element of a badger cull as part of your strategy? Do you accept that there is more that you could do? Because the sector certainly feels that way, and they also feel that the time has now come to do that.

If I can just go back to your first question, I don't have £100 million that I can just give to the agricultural sector in relation to beef prices. So, if that's what people are looking for, then, unfortunately, I do not have that level of money, and I don't think anybody in these times of austerity would expect me to do so. What I did do last year was give £2 million to the red meat sector for them to do some benchmarking. Unfortunately, not all that funding was taken up by red meat businesses, so I think that also shows something that we should take on board as well.

In relation to your question around bovine TB, and I absolutely accept the personal side of this and the distress it causes, you'll be aware of the TB eradication programme refresh that we had, and we're working through that. And the short answer to your last bit—'Do we think we should introduce a badger cull?'—the answer's 'no'.

I have to say, in response to your first comment there about the take-up of the benchmarking, the question is—well, you're blaming the farmers again, aren't you? And that's the culture of this Government: it's blame the farmers, it's point the finger at the farmers. Okay, the take-up wasn't there, but are you not reflecting as to why that was the case? Maybe it wasn't presented properly, maybe it wasn't the most appropriate way to do it. But it's the default position of this Government to blame the farmers, and I really—[Interruption.] I really do feel that that's a shame.

We've seen it with the TB stuff as well. I hear Members—well, I'm not sure what they're saying, but they're making noises. With the TB stuff, in, I think it was, the last statement you made, you were telling farmers that they really have to work harder, really try harder to stop this happening. Yet they're seeing this Government not utilising all of the tools that they could utilise, that are being utilised in other countries. So, surely, you have to admit that that adds to the feeling of frustration, to the feeling of despondency, ultimately leading to despair and mental health issues, on those farms where they do come across or find themselves being locked down by bovine TB.

Now, add to all of that, of course, Brexit, and a dark picture gets even darker still. If the prospect of a 'no deal' is increasingly likely at the moment, then you have already warned us, and I'll quote, that:

'A "no deal" would be absolutely catastrophic for farming, for farming families and for our communities in Wales', and I don't see anything there that I disagree with. You, as a Welsh Government, have to commit to doing absolutely everything you can to mitigate the impacts of Brexit, but particularly of a 'no deal' Brexit, so will you today commit, in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit, to diverting all of the staffing and financing resources that you have as a department to try to mitigate the effects of that 'no deal' Brexit? That would mean, of course, pausing the consultations, such as the 'Sustainable Farming and our Land' consultation, so that this Government strains every sinew to protect the sector and the rural communities that we all hold so dear.

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.