2. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 29 April 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:25, 29 April 2020

(Translated)

Llywydd, I would like to thank Llyr Gruffydd for those questions. Just to say, first of all, that I do I recognise the problems faced in agriculture in the context of the coronavirus crisis. We have worked, and we do work, with farmers in the dairy sector, for example, to try to find more ways for them to make use of the milk that they produce on a daily basis in Wales. We know that where they sold milk prior to coronavirus that the demand there doesn't exist as it did presviously, but we do want to work with farmers in Wales in order to create alternative opportunities for them to use their milk by making more cheese or more butter, or whatever else they can produce. And I do know that those discussions are ongoing between our officials and leaders in the agricultural sector here in Wales.

I do acknowledge what Llyr Gruffydd said about debts. I'm sure that many people working in this area are concerned about their futures and I am, of course, happy to speak to Lesley Griffiths about a bespoke scheme, as Llyr Gruffydd suggested, to see whether that could be something that could assist people working in this area. If we can draw together everything that we're currently doing to assist people, then I am more than happy to take the opportunity to speak to the Minister with responsibilities in this portfolio to see whether such a scheme would be of assistance in showing what we're already doing and what we wish to do in the future in order to support people in our rural areas.