Diolch, Llywydd. I am pleased to be able to contribute to today's debate on behalf of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee. Before turning to our views on the LCM, I'd like to point out that we had very little time to consider and report on it. Within the time available, it wasn't possible to consider the LCM or the Bill's provisions in any great detail. That said, what we do know is the Bill will enable the Welsh Government to continue to pay farmers in the form of direct payments in the immediate post-Brexit period.

Since the outcome of the European referendum, the committee has taken a keen interest in the future of agricultural support following Brexit. In our report on the previous UK agriculture Bill, we highlighted the unprecedented uncertainty facing Welsh farmers in the run-up to Brexit. We have been clear about the need to provide stability for farmers by ensuring the continuation of direct payments in the immediate post-Brexit period. We know that the Welsh Government plans to introduce a new system of financial support for farmers, and we look forward to scrutinising the Government's final proposals when they emerge.

But any new system is still some way off. Until then, farmers will need to rely on the system we will inherit from the European Union, of which direct payments is a very big part. The Bill will enable the Welsh Government to continue to provide direct payments to Welsh farmers as we leave the EU. With the Brexit deadline a matter of days away, to not legislate is not an option—including provisions in the Bill is pragmatic and necessary. The committee therefore finds no reason to object to the Assembly agreeing the legislative consent motion associated with the LCM, and I would hope that all Members would do so, because to not do so would be catastrophic for Welsh farmers.