Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:23 pm on 29 April 2020.
First Minister, you will be very aware that many farms in Wales are facing grave problems as a result of coronavirus and its impact on the food sector. Beef and dairy farmers, particularly, are facing huge losses of up to £10,000 a month in a number of cases.
These businesses aren't going to be able to carry that level of loss and that level of debt for too long, so urgent action in this area is crucial. These businesses, generally speaking, don't qualify for many of the business schemes that your Government has already put in place. So, my question, quite simply, is: will you as First Minister, and will your Government, introduce a bespoke support scheme for Welsh farmers who find themselves in difficulties as a result of this crisis? And if you are intending to do that, can you tell us when, because, as I say, time is a key factor in all of this? If you don't intend to introduce such a scheme, then perhaps you could explain why.