We now move on to our next item on the agenda, which is item 6, which is a statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs on coronavirus, COVID-19, and I call on the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Since my last statement on 8 April, Welsh Government has focused on support for our food producers, protection of our environment, and the maintenance of critical infrastructure and infection control. Our top priority has been to address the immediate hardship caused by the pandemic.

Welsh Government has worked with local authorities in every part of Wales to deliver over 30,000 food parcels to households who are most at risk from COVID-19 and who have been advised by the chief medical officer not to leave home. This partnership between Welsh Government and local authorities has been a huge success, and I want to thank everyone involved.

From 23 April fishing businesses have been able to apply for the Welsh fisheries hardship grant. As of last week, 124 applications had been received, with more than £250,000 of grant aid already paid. So far, all applications have been processed within 10 working days.

On Saturday, I announced that dairy farmers who have lost more than 25 per cent of their income in April and May will be entitled to up to £10,000, to cover 70 per cent of their lost income.

Hybu Cig Cymru have launched a campaign involving high-profile chefs and other celebrities to produce recipe videos to encourage people in Wales to help our farmers by buying Welsh produce. My officials have also worked closely with Governments in all parts of the UK to collaborate on promotional campaigns for the dairy, beef and lamb sectors.

I and my officials are in constant contact with representatives from all sectors of the rural economy to monitor the significant challenges still ahead and further support needed. As well as supporting those facing hardship as a result of the pandemic, we've ensured critical work to support Wales’s rural economy and responding to the climate and nature emergency continues safely.

I've written to all households affected by the February floods to outline the support available to them, including the support they're able to access through their local authorities, and to notify them of the extension to the deadline to claim the financial support made available from Welsh Government.

I've made public statements reminding people to respect the workers in the water and energy sectors, who continue to maintain our critical infrastructure whilst observing social distancing measures.

My officials have been supporting the veterinary profession to work closely with our farmers to find ways to manage their role in supporting disease control and biosecurity on farms and at livestock markets. We cannot afford to ease off fighting animal disease and promoting the highest standards of animal welfare.

I would like to bring colleagues' attention to the work of Natural Resources Wales, who've been dealing with immense challenges during the current pandemic. At the same time as continuing their vital regulatory work and managing our peatlands and forests, they have dealt with devastating fires and pollution incidents. I'm especially pleased NRW have been able to visit sites belonging to those environmental non-governmental organisations who've had to furlough their staff, to help make sure any action necessary to protect those sites can be taken.

I have been hugely impressed by the efforts of our Welsh food and drinks businesses not only to find ways to trade safely but also to directly support the efforts to tackle COVID-19 and support our critical workers. Our food and drink cluster initiative has sought to support these businesses further by creating a directory of those Welsh producers offering online deliveries, available on the Cywain website. I hope all Members will encourage their constituents to buy from those fantastic food and drink businesses in their area.

Finally, I would like to return to recovery. Last week, I published the summary of responses to our sustainable farming consultation. Welsh Government's proposals are that all future financial support to farmers will be to enable them to manage their land so they can produce food to the highest quality and welfare standards whilst expanding the role they play in responding to the climate emergency and the loss of biodiversity in Wales. I believe the responses clearly show the sector is more than ready to rise to this challenge.

The next stage of co-design will now be undertaken remotely, with additional support for those who find these methods less accessible. With the end of the EU transition period fast approaching and the extremely challenging market conditions farmers are facing, we believe there is no time to lose in working even more closely with the farming sector to establish a new scheme that can allow the sector to be more resilient for the future.

I believe that when, and only when, it is safe to do so we need to prioritise the reopening of the food and hospitality sector to reinvigorate business all along the supply chain. We must enable our vets to resume the usual breadth and pace of their work and we must get to a position when we can again encourage Welsh citizens to enjoy our beautiful countryside.

The changes to the regulations last week, allowing people to exercise locally more than once a day, will provide more opportunities to appreciate nature on our doorstep, to the benefit of our physical and mental well-being. However, as the First Minister has said many times, we will proceed cautiously and carefully, guided by the science, and only relaxing measures when we have confidence the evidence supports this.

We will overcome the impact of the deadly coronavirus only if we can find ways to work even more closely together across Government, sectors and communities. I and other Ministers have already had many discussions with stakeholders about what a green recovery from COVID-19 should look like in Wales, and I will update Members further as these plans develop. I'm determined the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will accelerate and not deter us from the transition to a low-carbon economy and a healthier, more equal Wales. Diolch.

Thank you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon. Minister, I've received a question, so, as time is short, could you inform Plenary how the department is going through its work, given that, obviously, grants and the basic payment scheme window are now open? And I appreciate Government departments have had to be reconfigured. Can you give us assurances that there are no bottlenecks in the system that might delay grant applications or single farm payment applications? 

On the dairy announcement you made on the weekend, does the department know how many farms potentially might benefit from this announcement, how much it'll cost the department, and is it coming from your own budget, the costs that you will incur? And how will the claims that will come in from dairy farmers be processed? Because it's quite specific that it's relating to April and May, those checks, so I'm assuming that information will have to be provided to support the claim that will come in to the department.

In last week's committee meeting, you endorsed the comments that I made around Lucy's law, and you highlighted that you are meeting the chief vet this week. Have you had a chance to meet the chief vet and confirm how you're going to bring forward this important piece of legislation so that we can assure our constituents that this legislation will be in place by the Assembly election next year?

Farming and the rural community have been badly impacted by COVID-19. Can you, Minister, confirm that the rural development budget will be protected and 100 per cent of the budget committed and spent within the timeline? 

Minister, I understand that the NFU has written to you asking you to ring-fence for farming the 15 per cent pillar transfer of approximately £45 million. I have raised this with you before, and I appreciate that, at that time, you did say you were subject to Treasury approval on this. But can you commit today that, in the absence of Treasury approval, you are prepared to support such a transfer and, providing the Treasury gives its approval, you will agree for that to happen?

And, finally, on the nitrate vulnerable zone regulations—we've talked at length on this; we've talked about it in committee and I've talked about it with you at your statement on 8 April—given the severe impact that COVID has had on the agricultural industry, can you assure me that the regulatory impact assessment that has been undertaken, or is being undertaken, will take account of the severe impact that the COVID outbreak has had on the agricultural industry and that, if a fresh regulatory impact assessment is required, you will make one happen? Thank you.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

Thank you very much, Andrew Davies, for that list of questions and, clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the civil service and the officials working for us, but I can assure you that even though, obviously, staff are working from home, everyone is working very hard to make sure that we continue, particularly with the grants and the single farm payments and the applications, as you suggest, and I can assure you that that work will continue, and, clearly, if a bottleneck did appear, then we would have to move staff around. So, I had a meeting today with my directors, and, certainly, we're making sure that staff are able to do this work in a way that we would hope to see. So, that work is, clearly, carrying on.

In relation to the dairy support I announced on Saturday, obviously, we're still working through that. The funding is coming from my own main expenditure group. I think it will cost up to £1 million, but we have found that money from my own budget. Initial analysis of how many farms will be affected—I think it will be around 100 that will probably come forward for that support.

In relation to Lucy's law, I'm meeting with the chief veterinary officer and other officials tomorrow to discuss that. As I said in committee last week, it is still a priority for me and for the Welsh Government. Clearly, the legislative programme has had an impact as well, so these are all things that we need to work through. You're quite right about the effect on the farming and rural community, and, again, on the rural development programme, we are in the process of carrying out a detailed analysis of the challenges relating to the RDP, so no decisions have been made yet. What I've asked officials to look at is what RDP-funded activity cannot now proceed—if there is anything that can't proceed or can't deliver—how the budget pressures across Welsh Government will impact on the RDP, and how we would respond to that. So, there's detailed consideration being given to the options going forward.

In relation to the 15 per cent pillar transfer that you referred to, my answer is still the same: we are still awaiting—. Whilst we've had confirmation from UK Government, we haven't received the funding. That money will come to the Welsh Government and, obviously, the decisions will be taken then.

In relation to the draft agricultural pollution regulations I published about five weeks ago, your question around the RIA and the impact of COVID-19—. So, at the moment, we are continuing to work with stakeholders to develop the RIA, and drafts of the RIA are now with those stakeholders and we've invited, obviously, comments and advice from them. We have obviously started to have that information being considered, and, obviously, the final RIA will be published alongside any regulations so that Members of the Senedd will be able to scrutinise that. So, that work, again, is still ongoing. So, obviously, with the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, that can be fed into the RIA.

Thank you, Minister, for those answers. Could you confirm if goat and sheep farmers who milk the sheep or the goats would benefit from the dairy support package that is made available—it's not just people who milk dairy cows who benefit from the scheme? And could you commit to updating the Plenary at your earliest convenience around your meeting with the chief vet tomorrow, so that we may understand how the Government are proposing to bring forward the Lucy's law proposals?

Also, I'm a little disappointed, because you did indicate in your response that the money has come through, or you've had indications certainly, from the Treasury, that the money will be coming through from the Treasury in relation to the top-up and the 15 per cent pillar transfer. So, could you, as Minister, give your commitment today to support that proposal? I don't see why you can't give your commitment to support that proposal.

And, finally, in your statement you did allude to the opening up of the countryside, which I'm sure we'd all welcome. But, in light of the tragedy that happened in Monmouthshire the other week, where sadly someone lost their life while crossing an agricultural field with buffalos in the field, it's vitally important that the safety message is promoted. Can you give us assurances that that message is being actively promoted by the Welsh Government, because, in my own region of South Wales Central, it was only some years ago that sadly two walkers lost their lives on the edge of Cardiff when they were in a field of cows and the cows stampeded and trampled them? So, health and safety is vital when we do reopen the countryside, and that people are aware of their responsibilities when mixing with livestock so that we avoid tragedy.

Thank you. In relation to your first question around goat and sheep within the dairy sector, that was raised with me on Monday at the EU transition Brexit round-table, so I know officials are working through that. I think the initial response was that they probably wouldn't fulfil the criteria, but I know that is an ongoing piece of work.

In relation to Lucy's law, I will be able to update Members obviously when I've had those discussions, and then look at how that fits into the rest of the legislative programme. The First Minister is leading on a piece of work to look at legislation at the moment.

In relation to the 15 per cent, my answer is that we have had notice from the UK Government we should be getting it, we will be getting it. My understanding now is that we should receive more information when the comprehensive spending review is held. Certainly, when that money arrives, I will look to make a case for that but, clearly, until we have that money, I'm not able to say anymore.

I think you raise a really important point around access, and I know that Hannah Blythyn, who leads on access in the countryside, has done some work around promoting that message. I met with a group of environmental NGOs under the Wales Environment Link umbrella, where we talked about health and safety and how we can make sure the public get that message, particularly now when we know more people are accessing the countryside and their local areas in a way that perhaps they haven't done before. So, we're certainly doing all we can. I know there's a great deal of activity on social media, and I think it's really important that we all look to promoting that message as more people embrace nature.

Thank you, Minister, for your statement, and I very much welcome the fact that we at last have some sort of dairy support scheme, although still regretting the fact that it took so long for the scheme to be brought forward, because the sector, myself and many others were calling for this six, seven, eight weeks ago and, of course, many of those affected will have incurred losses hugely in excess of the £10,000 that's being offered. But, of course, it's very much welcome for what it is. So, can I ask when do you aim for that money to be released? When will farmers be able to apply for this? Clearly they're carrying huge debts, and time is of the essence in this respect, and people would like to know exactly when they can expect to receive some of this support. Can you also explain to us whether the applications will be open for a certain period, because, of course, you mentioned around about 100 farms that you expect to have been affected or expect to apply for this money, but there's nothing to say that others businesses will find themselves slipping into a similar position over the coming weeks and months, and for them to know that they would potentially have access to this kind of support scheme, I think, would be of great benefit?

Can I also suggest that maybe in future the Minister would do well to inform Members of the Senedd when these announcements are made? Because, clearly, we got from you in committee last week that there would be an imminent announcement, but it was left to third-party and outside external organisations to inform me that the statement had actually been made that the scheme was going to come—and the statement was made on Saturday, I should say. So, really, the same thing happened with the fisheries hardship fund as well, where I was told by members of the sector that the scheme had been announced. Maybe, just as a matter of courtesy, you could be copying us into your press releases in future so that we know about it before we read about it in the media.

Thank you for your questions. You must appreciate these schemes take a little while to work up, and, as I said in committee last week, it's very important that we had that scheme right—it was a bespoke scheme—and that it was right for our Welsh dairy sector. The final details are being worked up, just the same as in England. I said to you last week it's not a competition; the most important thing is to get it right. So, those details are being worked up, but I do hope that we'll be in a position to—. Again, as I said last week, what's really important is getting that money out there. So, I do hope we'll be able to do that in the very near future, certainly within a week to 10 days.

I would imagine, yes, it will be open for a certain period. If you look at the fisheries hardship scheme, that's open till the end of May. That started on 23 April, so that's probably about five or six weeks. I would imagine it will be something similar for the dairy support as well.

Again, it's really important that we get these—. I don't particularly like making announcements on a Saturday, but, as I'd said to you in committee, I was hoping to do it by the Friday evening, but there are legal aspects, as always, to consider, and you can imagine the pressure on our legal capacity here in Welsh Government. So, the most important thing, I thought, was to ensure that people knew as quickly as possible that that support would be available.

I've no problem with you making announcements on Saturdays; it's just a case of maybe copying us in when you inform people within the sector that certain announcements are being made as well. Because we are here primarily to scrutinise you as Minister and, frankly, it's quite embarrassing for us to be told by external organisations that you have made announcements as significant as this. I think, in future, it would be courteous, let's say, to keep us in the loop as well. 

Now, clearly, the beef sector are in a precarious position as well, facing significant losses, and they see clear parallels between themselves and many of those in the dairy sector. They are also wondering what action the Government is taking to support them. Clearly, you've outlined initiatives around Hybu Cig Cymru and promoting some of the produce and hopefully strengthening some of the market demand out there, but I did ask you in committee last week about more direct interventions to support the beef sector as well, and I asked you about some of the criteria you would use. I didn't quite really get clarity around your thinking there, so maybe you could expand a little bit, having had some time to reflect on it, on what kind of criteria would trigger a similar intervention in relation to the beef sector. I think many out there would appreciate just to understand your thinking around that. 

I also asked you about the sustainable grant scheme, which has a closing date of 19 May, next week, but those applications require quotations for capital works, infrastructure reports, et cetera, which are impossible to compile without getting onto the farms, and that can't be done, of course, in the current climate. So, can you—having said that you'd look at it with your officials immediately after the meeting—tell us whether there is to be an extension to the sustainable grant scheme closing date? 

And Welsh Government, through Rural Payments Wales, I'm told, has decided to suspend all financial support for the private forestry sector for the foreseeable future. The reason, I'm told, for that is that savings are necessary to meet the extra costs of dealing with the pandemic. So, can you confirm whether that's true?

Also, picking up on the earlier question about funding some of the additional interventions that you now require as a result of the pandemic, could you explain to us how you're prioritising or reprioritising budgets within your department and explain where particularly you're removing the money to be invested in other places? Thank you.

Thank you, and I'm pleased you welcomed and recognised the support for the dairy sector as significant. And you're quite right about the beef sector—there are clearly concerns around that. Last year was a difficult year for beef producers, and I know they are having difficulties in maintaining the sustainability of the sector. We are looking at what criteria we would use to see if we do need, obviously, to bring a bespoke scheme forward for beef, and my officials are in regular contact, as I said last week, with other UK Government administrations. They're monitoring the prices on a weekly basis. We receive regular updates from Hybu Cig Cymru, and it's really important that we have that most up-to-date information to help our decision making.

In relation to the sustainable farm grants, I'm certainly looking to see if we can extend that, and I will be making a decision on that within the next two days.

Around budgets, we are obviously having to repurpose the budget in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, we will be having our first supplementary budget as a Welsh Government later this month and, obviously, Members will be able to scrutinise at that time.

Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. This is my first appearance via Zoom, and I'd like to place on record my thanks to the Senedd staff who have made this possible—that was due to my own circumstances at home. And I'll use this opportunity, also, to give a heartfelt thank you to all of the key workers who have kept this country going, and to those following the rules and doing their bit.

Some, like us, are largely financially untouched by the pandemic; others are not so lucky. I was initially impressed with the speed and scale of the UK Government response with regard to the furlough scheme and other support packages. However, both the UK and Welsh Governments have, in my view, been incredibly ill prepared and long-winded in their support for farmers, especially the dairy industry. Support was only finally announced last week, when others have been furloughed at 80 per cent pay for around eight weeks. It's been really slow.

In the early days, pre and post lockdown, we saw how, suddenly, supplies of food in particular and some household goods became all important. Food banks have been crying out for support, and yet raw milk has been thrown away down the drains. What a waste of a vital foodstuff and source of income for dairy farmers. I welcome the fact that there is now support in place, but I'm concerned about all the red tape that farmers may have to wade through to get it. I'm so glad that you're emphasising on actually getting it right. You've just stated that there are around 100 farmers who have applied for this grant. Can you confirm what you've just stated, that the money will be in their bank accounts within six to 10 days?

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all the Welsh Government Ministers and their staff for their efforts during this time. It's clearly been a monumental task for everyone.

And finally, looking ahead, there will be lessons to be learned and innovations to be celebrated. I do appreciate it's early days, but I'm interested to hear what you will do to embed these policies into practice, going forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mandy Jones. I don't think we've been really slow at all; I think Welsh Government has reacted as quickly as possible. As I said in earlier answers to Andrew and to Llyr, there are legal hoops that you have to jump through. That's just how it is when you're dealing with public money, and I think you would be one of the first people to criticise us if we didn't do it properly. So, it was really important to get it right.

If you look at the economic resilience fund, for instance, that's unique to Wales. I think there were 9,000 applications in the first few days. So, you can see, as you say—and thank you for your thanks to Welsh Government, and that's all of us—people are working incredibly hard to support the people of Wales. But things do take time, and it is important that we get it right.

I didn't say 100 farmers had applied, I said the original analysis was that there were probably around 100 dairy farmers who would be affected—who would fall within the criteria of the scheme. You ask if the money can be got out between six to 10 days. So, certainly, with the fisheries scheme—and I'm sort of comparing because, obviously, that one is up and running—I think that, with all the applications that we had, fishers received their funding within 10 days, so I would certainly hope to. I'm not big on red tape; I like simple, unbureaucratic ways of working, and I think, certainly, the fishers have really welcomed the speed with which they've received their money.

All lessons should be learned, good or bad, and, clearly, things are going to be very different. I think I heard Rebecca Evans saying at the end, life will not be the same again, and I don't think it will be the same again in many ways. In some ways, I think, we don't want life to be the same again. I hope all the things we've learned, and, again, the sort of behavioural change that we've seen—people embracing nature and the countryside in a way that they haven't before. I think it's really important that we lock in that behavioural change, and, certainly, I said in my statement that a green recovery is really important. So, yes, I think it's really important that we embed those lessons in our policy making.

Thank you so much, Minister, for emphasising the need to produce food to the highest quality and play our part in tackling climate change. Thank you also for reopening garden centres, which, obviously, safeguards the businesses of what are mainly small businesses. But I want to just remind us that whatever amateur gardeners are able to produce in the way of fruit and vegetables, it is not going to tackle the deficit that we currently have in terms of the huge amount of vegetables and, particularly, fruit that we rely on from imports. So, I know that the Landworkers Alliance Cymru has written to you about how we could expand fruit and veg production, and I wondered how the Welsh Government is planning to take forward commercial production to improve food security.

Secondly, I just want to ask you about air pollution. It's far too soon to tie down the correlation between air pollution and the spread of COVID, but we do know that 1,700 lives have been saved across Britain by cleaner air during this lockdown, and we also know that diseases caused by air pollution, like heart disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, all exacerbate one's chances of getting and not surviving COVID. So, I wondered if you could tell us what work your Government is doing on ensuring that, in the recovery from COVID, we are maintaining the improvements in cleaner air and ensuring that it's really at the forefront of people's minds when we're reshaping our public transport systems and the way in which people can safely get to work and school.

Thank you, Jenny. I don't think I've had sight of the correspondence to which you referred, but I think you make a very important point about growing fruit and vegetables, and obviously the Welsh Government in the regulation review last Thursday, from Monday, garden centres have been able to open. I think it's been very well received by the Welsh public.

Horticulture makes up a very small percentage of the agriculture sector, it's about 1 per cent, but I think it is a key growth sector, and certainly if this pandemic has taught us one thing, it is about the sustainability and the security of our food. So, I think it was last night, officials attended in Pembrokeshire, remotely, a meeting of a very enthusiastic group of people who want to look at what we can do around community networks around growing fruit and veg. Again, I think it's about behavioural change. We are seeing more people growing fruit and veg at this time and planting, and that was one of the reasons why we believed the garden centres, so long as they practice social distance—and a lot of them are outdoors—should open.

In relation to air pollution, this goes back to what I was saying to Mandy Jones about behavioural changes, and certainly I think we've got at the moment—. We always have to look for opportunities when there are so many challenges, and one opportunity is to measure the change in air pollutants as a result of the reduced travel and commercial activity. I think what we want to understand is where air quality improvements have been found, how that then impacts on public health and how it impacts on the natural environment. It's really essential that we fully understand the change in air quality landscape and develop future policy proposals to lock in that behavioural change to which I referred in any improvements for the future. At the moment, officials are collaborating with external partners to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the changes in air quality since lockdown restrictions were introduced, and over the coming weeks and months this will, again, support any decision making on cross-Government air quality management, our future policy and our future legislation, which, as you know, is quite hefty in this area. So, that includes our clean air plan, our clean air Bill and the Wales transport strategy, and that includes active travel proposals. 

Good afternoon, Minister. I have to say that I do agree with an awful lot of the commentary made by Mandy Jones. In my own constituency I've had farmers who've had to go out and bring their cows in, milk their cows and then pour that milk away, and the feeling is entirely different to having a shop, where you might have to just close the doors, but the baked beans and so on still stay on the shelf. This is a very up-and-personal business and they have struggled for a long time, and I think it has taken the Welsh Government an awful long time to come up with a solution.

In your response on your statement you talked about the food and drink cluster. I have one specific area I want to bring to your attention and that's to do with the vineyards in Wales. We have over 57 hectares of vineyards growing throughout Wales, over 30 vineyards, and they produce high-quality, award-winning vines. Wine tourism is estimated to contribute over £10 million a year to GDP, but they are not able to access business rate relief, grants based on rateable values, the economic resilience fund, the employee furlough scheme or self-employment income support. I'm just asking as I have so many vineyards in my own constituency and, from my own perspective, I think it's a really vital food and drink to preserve: would you consider having a look at this particular sector and what you can do to support this industry? Because it brings so much kudos to Wales to have this wonderful product grown in our fields and valleys.

Thank you, Angela, for your question around the support for Welsh vineyards, which I'll turn to in a second. When Mandy Jones asked me about the milk that had been poured away, you're quite right about foodbanks, and Welsh Government is looking to what we can do to support foodbanks. I know Hannah Blythyn, who leads on that, is doing a huge amount of work with the independent ones and with Trussell Trust and with FareShare. I know that we had milk poured away when one of the processors didn't collect the milk, and I absolutely agree with you: when we had these issues with Tomlinson's up in north-east Wales, I remember one farmer saying to me that it was one of the worst things that had ever happened to him in his career. So, I absolutely understand where you're coming from in relation to that.

In relation to vineyards, you're quite right; we're getting a growing reputation, I think, for Welsh wine, and I know a couple of weeks ago it was Welsh wine night, and it was great to see on social media so many people enjoying Welsh wine. We have already started to look at the range of support measures for businesses that they could apply to. I know some vineyards may be eligible for the non-domestic rate relief scheme. Again, it depends on certain criteria, and local authorities do have the power to provide discretionary relief to them if they are outside of the established NDR schemes. We also have published some additional criteria in relation to the economic resilience fund, and I know it has been paused at the moment. I mentioned in an earlier answer the significant number of applications we've had, but it could be that they will be eligible for that as well. But clearly, if I need to look at anything specifically, and as you say, in your area you have a significant—. I think there are about 15 vineyards in Wales, and you have a significant number of them in your constituency. But if you'd like to write to me, if there is any one that specifically wants to see if they can access some support, or maybe from the UK Government as well, I'd be very happy to look at that.

I'm grateful to the Minister for her statement. Minister, in your statement you referenced the food box scheme, and I think many of our constituents across the whole of Wales, some of the most vulnerable people, will have been very grateful for it, but I know that you're aware that there have been some issues. It hasn't been possible to include local food and local produce, for example, and certainly I know that in my region in Ceredigion, some of the fresh food, when it arrived, was past its sell-by date or, in some cases, unfortunately, actually off. Am I right to understand, Minister, that it has now reached the point with that contract where there is a break clause and you will be able to reconsider how the food boxes might be provided? I know that there are local authorities in my region, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, who would be very keen to take up that work on your behalf, and that would enable them to work with local companies and with local food suppliers so that people would get fresher food and would also be supporting local food chains. So, I wonder if you can tell us any more about that today. That’s not to criticise the work that’s already been done, that’s not what I mean, but I think now there ought to be a chance for us to be using that investment not only to support the most vulnerable citizens, which is the most important thing, but also to support our local food producers.

Thank you, Helen Mary, and I think the food box scheme has been incredibly successful and I’d really like to pay tribute to officials who got that up and running very, very quickly. As you say, these are the shielded group, the most extremely vulnerable group of people. We made sure from the beginning that the boxes did include some Welsh food. So, bread, biscuits, there were potatoes and other vegetables, and then we’ve added to that. So there’s now fruit juice, I think, or flavoured water that’s been added to it. You are quite right, we’re now in week 6 of the scheme. Obviously, initially, it was announced as a 12-week scheme and we said we would review the scheme when we were halfway through, so that review is being undertaken.

I am aware of Ceredigion and I did receive some correspondence about some fruit that was mouldy. We haven’t been able to trace whether indeed it was fruit and where it had come from, but clearly we want to make sure that the produce that arrives is of the highest quality, and officials have worked on that. So we have secret box delivery, if you like, to make sure that everything is being done absolutely correctly because, as you say, these are the most extremely vulnerable, so it’s really important that that box of food arrives on a weekly basis, if that’s what a person wants to receive.

So, on that, yes, Ceredigion, I’ve had discussions with the leader of Ceredigion around them doing their own scheme. My main concern is that they have a sustainable scheme. It’s really important that if they then say, 'Well, we’ll provide the 500 boxes', or however many extremely vulnerable people want these boxes, that they are able to sustain those boxes. We are actually asking Ceredigion to run a pilot scheme for us. I think that’s starting next week, at the beginning of week 7, but we’re obviously going to be able to monitor that to see if other local authorities who want to do that can do that. But the most important thing is that—it would be great to use more Welsh produce, of course—but that those boxes are sustainable, because we cannot have a shielded person not receiving the box. But I’m very happy to work with the local authorities and, as I say, Ceredigion is going to do a pilot scheme for us.

Mike Hedges. I can’t see Mike Hedges. The significant difference from sitting and chairing in the Senedd is I know exactly where you sit in the Senedd; on my Zoom screen, you keep moving around, and especially Mike Hedges, who has just reappeared as I was talking. I call you, Mike Hedges.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to talk about animal welfare. Can I just say that Andrew Davies is speaking for very many of us in the Assembly when he talked about the need for Lucy’s law? I believe there is virtually unanimous support for bringing in Lucy’s law, and can I say that the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee would do anything that you ask of us in order to get Lucy’s law implemented in Wales?

Can I also ask you: will you join me in congratulating the Dogs Trust on what they’re doing in supporting those people who are homeless in terms of looking after their dogs and trying to make sure that they don’t lose their dog or don’t have to remain homeless in order to keep their dogs?

On two other areas of animal welfare, can you provide an update on the new code of practice that has been recommended for the keeping of rabbits? And what is the current position of Government guidance for the keeping of primates, and when is that to be proposed? Although, if it was up to me, I’d ban the keeping of primates as I think it’s fundamentally wrong, but if there is going to be Government action, can you tell us when it’s likely to happen?

Thank you, Mike, and thank you for that offer from the committee that you chair to support me with Lucy’s law. You are quite right, I think there is unanimous political will to see Lucy's law here in Wales, and that includes myself as well. I said in an earlier answer, as you heard, to Andrew R.T. Davies that I will be meeting with the chief veterinary officer tomorrow and officials, and it's just making sure that we have time in that legislative programme. But I'm sure that all Members will recognise the huge demand on the legislative programme in relation to, well, obviously, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also as we go through the EU transition period. 

I saw myself in my MS inbox, an e-mail from the Dogs Trust this morning and I thought it was excellent, the work that they were doing in relation to homeless people and their dogs. So, yes, I'm very happy to commend that, too. 

In relation to the two codes of practice that you refer to, obviously that work, it's ongoing, but it could be that it's been paused in light of COVID-19. So, I will update Members as soon as I have more to say on that. 

Minister, you've consistently talked about animal welfare both today and, of course, ever since you were appointed to this important role, and I share your commitment to animal welfare. One thing that you could do to support animal welfare in the current crisis is to establish a Welsh zoo support fund. You'll be aware that the UK Government has established a £14 million zoo support fund to support animal welfare in zoos, aquariums and other animal attractions in England to help get them through the pandemic. That fund provides up to £100,000 on top of the other support that it is already available from the Treasury, in recognition that zoos still have animals that have to be cared for in spite of the fact that they're closed and not receiving anything in terms of income from ticket sales. 

Now, of course, this sort of fund could provide a huge boost to animal attractions across Wales, including the Welsh Mountain Zoo in my constituency, and places like Anglesey Sea Zoo, Rhyl SeaQuarium and other places in north Wales and, indeed, across the whole of the nation. Will you commit today to establishing a Welsh zoo support fund to support animal welfare in our zoos and animal attractions across Wales? 

Thank you. At the current time, we haven't committed to a zoo scheme because zoos were able to apply for funding from the economic resilience scheme, which, as you appreciate, is unique to Wales. So, that funding was there right from the beginning, really, for zoos. But what we did do back probably about three or four weeks ago now—I think it was around 24 April—officials wrote to all the zoos in Wales with details of the existing schemes from which they would be eligible for funding. But we also issued a questionnaire alongside that correspondence so that we could identify what key animal welfare concerns were out there with the zoos. As you say, there are some very large zoos; I'm very well aware of the Welsh Mountain Zoo in your constituency, and some are very small, so I think it was really important to get a feeling from all of them about what the issues were. 

I also wanted to see if there were any funding gaps that were out there that we needed to look at. At the current time, about 17—. Certainly, the last time I asked Christianne, about 17 responses had been received. That included from two animal exhibits, so they're not licensed zoos, so it was about 15. Most have indicated that they've been able to access the funding that was already available, and either they've received or they've applied for the funding from various Government schemes. We then wrote again to them all giving them a further update, I think probably at the beginning of this week. So, we will obviously keep a close eye on it but, at the moment, I'm not bringing forward a specific scheme because I don't think there is the need for that at the moment. But obviously, animal health and welfare are very important, so we'll keep it under review. 

Minister, I've been speaking to various stakeholders in the brewing industry as part of my role as chair of the cross-party group on beer and pubs, and they are rightly concerned about the future of this very important industry. So, I wonder if you could make some comments on what type of support is available for them from the Welsh Government, whether or not the brewers in Wales are accessing that support, and will there be long-term support in place to secure the future of this very important industry in Wales post coronavirus?

Thank you, Jack. At the moment, officials are doing a little bit of research, if you like, about just whether brewers are accessing the COVID-19 loans, the grants, and relief that is available. You'll be aware that, pre-COVID-19, we've offered a great deal of support for the drinks sector. We've got the drinks cluster, of which you're aware, and we do provide a great deal of support to brewers and to the drinks sector generally.

I think you're right about the future; I think there is some concern with brewers. I was talking with—you'll be very aware of them—Wrexham Lager, which you visited, in my constituency, and they're a business that have managed to get out online, and they've also been doing deliveries. And they are obviously concerned that people's behaviour has been changed in relation to—. Obviously, the pubs have been closed, the hospitality sector, so there is clearly concern that people's way of—the way they drink might change; they've now been drinking at home. So, I think there is a concern. 

So, as I say, we're doing a bit of research to see what funding they can access, but I think we need to look in the longer term, and, certainly, the food and drink industry advisory board, they've been looking at issues around this also, and will be advising me as we go forward. 

You'll be aware of Project HELIX as well. You will have heard me talk about Project HELIX before. There are a lot of technical services that they provide to the breweries, which I think we'll need to take forward too. But I know that a few of them have been able to obtain, just from that initial research that officials have been doing, they have been able to obtain a number of Government schemes. But, also, there could be some falling through the gaps, if you like, so we may need to revisit this once that piece of research has been finished. 

More than six weeks into lockdown, consumer champion Which? published their findings that thousands of very high-risk or extremely vulnerable people across the UK are struggling to access the food and basic supplies they desperately need amid the coronavirus pandemic. Based on the huge number of reports they're seeing from vulnerable people struggling to get access to basic food and supplies, they state that although Governments in Wales, England and Scotland have provided the supermarkets with edited lists of those who fall in the extremely vulnerable category, it's clear that the current system is not working for those who need it the most. How do you therefore respond to their evidence-based conclusions that,

'The governments across the UK must now urgently coordinate their approach to make sure that no vulnerable person has to navigate confusing, long-winded and complicated systems in order to access food during the pandemic lockdown.'?

Thank you. Well, I certainly don't think people in Wales have to have a complicated system; we in Wales did a very straightforward system. You don't have to register in the way that you have to do in England, and I've met with the supermarkets on regular occasions over the last six to seven weeks; I last met with them a week today, and I think our online slots are working very well now. There were certainly some concerns in the beginning, but once the system was up and running, we managed to iron out, I think, those difficulties, and I pay tribute to the supermarkets, and to all the retail staff, who've made sure that we've been able to feed the nation. 

Even last week, when another 21,000 people went on to the shielded list here in Wales, the information about those people was with the supermarkets straight away, and the supermarkets confirmed that to me. And even in small numbers, if a GP decided to add a patient to the shielded list themselves—which, of course, they were able to do; it wasn't just the chief medical officer—the data on that person went to the supermarkets straight away. So, I don't think, in Wales, we've had a complex system. There were certainly teething difficulties, which were ironed out very quickly. 

So, a co-ordinated scheme across the UK was something that we looked at. The UK Government decided that they wanted an England scheme. As I say, it's very different to ours, but I think, in Wales now, we've got it right. And, along with the supermarket slots, and the food delivery boxes, to which I referred in my answers to Helen Mary Jones, I think we've made every effort. And again, I give credit to so many people who've made sure that we've had a robust system, particularly our local authorities, who've worked very closely with us on the delivery boxes.

And finally, Joyce Watson.

Diolch, Llywydd. One of the questions I wanted to raise, which I don't believe has been raised so far, was for an update about the job matching scheme that you launched nearly a month ago. You did say at the time—and we all agreed that we were very concerned about the impact COVID-19 was having on the Welsh agricultural and horticultural sectors—that there might be a potential shortage of labour within those industries and other land-based industries, of course. So whilst I commend you for taking the rapid action that you did to address that problem, do you have an update—either now or to give in the future—about how that is working?

Thank you, Joyce. Clearly, the agricultural sector workforce was something that concerned us, particularly with—I think it's about 30 per cent can be people from Europe, and obviously that was going to be severely affected. So you're quite right, we did launch the skills match scheme. I haven't got any figures to date—I was expecting some advice at the end of this week. Lantra are running the scheme for us, and I think it's really important.

And it's not just around fruit picking or vegetable picking, we're really concerned about sheep shearing, for instance, because again, there's often a number of people who come over from New Zealand and Australia, and as you'll be aware, people normally go from Wales to Australia and New Zealand to do sheep shearings too. So, we're looking at that, and also around contractors who do slurry removal, for instance. So I think there's a huge number of workers that we are going to see. So I'd be very happy to provide an update when I have that analysis.

It's also something that we're working with the UK Government on. I'm a member of the ministerial inter-governmental group, which meets every day, but over the last few weeks, we've discussed the workforce in great detail. I've mentioned previously the horticultural sector only makes up 1 per cent of the agricultural sector here in Wales, so I don't think we've been impacted in a way that perhaps other countries have, but it's something that we're keeping a very close eye on, and I'd certainly be very happy to provide an update in due course.

Thank you, Minister. And that brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you, all.

The meeting ended at 18:08.