11. Legislative Consent Motion on the Agriculture Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:42 pm on 29 September 2020.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 5:42, 29 September 2020

Thank you very much, Chair. I'd like to thank Members for their contributions during this debate. I think I said in my opening remarks that, certainly, if we had been drafting it, we wouldn't have drafted it in this way, but I do want to reiterate the point that we very much would have preferred to have brought forward our own agriculture Bill, a bespoke Bill, for the agricultural sector here in Wales. And I am committed to bringing forward a draft White Paper before the end of this calendar year. Even with all the difficult times at the moment with the COVID-19 pandemic, I assure Members that the draft White Paper is on target to be published before the end of this year.

This Bill—you know, several Members pointed out that it's been a long time coming. We had the first Bill back two years ago, in September 2018, and obviously that fell when the UK Government called a general election last year. So, I think it's right to point out that this is several reiterations. But I have worked very closely with the Secretary of State, and officials have worked very closely also.

I'd like to thank both Chairs of the committees—Mike Hedges and Mick Antoniw—for their comments. And I think hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I do wish we had been able to find the time in the legislative programme to bring forward our Bill, as I said. But we have to look at this Bill, because the provisions relating to Wales will enable us to provide the agricultural sector with vital stability and continuity as we transition out of the European Union. It is an incredibly unsettling time for the agricultural sector, but this will provide some of that stability.

Several Members mentioned the red lines when I attended committee, and you'll be aware that the WTO was certainly one area that was a very clear red line for me, because we had made very clear to the UK Government we did not accept the WTO clause was wholly reserved. But we have now this bilateral agreement between the Welsh and UK Governments, and that's guided by the principles that are set out in the inter-governmental agreement, so it does require the UK Government to consult the devolved administrations and to seek to proceed by agreement before bringing forward any regulations. So, I wanted to make that point again, Chair, to reassure Members.

As Llyr Huws Gruffydd pointed out, we have certainly taken the recommendations on board. There were many, many helpful comments from committees, and the sunset clause is absolutely a point in case, and that has been brought forward at my request.

Janet Finch-Saunders, I have always been a champion for Welsh produce and the Welsh agricultural sector since I've been in this portfolio. It's part of the make-up of our wonderful agricultural sector. I think there is more we can do around procurement, I'd be the first to admit that, and I will certainly take that forward. And, again, around tenancy, you're quite right—a significant number of our farmers in Wales are tenants, and it's very important that we had our consultation around that and, clearly, also, when we'll be bringing our Bill forward, I want to do more to support the tenant farmers we have.

I also wanted to say, about the LCM process, I don't disagree that it's not a difficult process. We're required to lay an LCM in the Senedd normally no later than two weeks after amendments are tabled or agreed, but, due to the advanced stage of the Bill and, therefore, the lack of time available for normal Senedd scrutiny, that's why I wrote to the committees and Members of the Senedd to outline the amendments that have been made. Finally, Chair, I would like to reassure Members that, if the Bill looks very different, I will, of course, come back for further scrutiny from the Senedd.