6. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:34 pm on 13 May 2020.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 5:34, 13 May 2020

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.