3. What is the Welsh Government's strategy for expanding horticulture in Wales? OQ55695

Thank you. The Welsh Government's strategy is to increase the production of fruit and vegetables in an environmentally sustainable way, in line with the objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Minister, you'll be aware that our food standards and our animal welfare standards, of which we are so proud, are under threat from multiple sources. I'm very concerned that a free trade agreement with the United States could lead to adulterated food from the United States flooding our shores. George Washington University has been undertaking research over the last five years on meat that is sold in United States shops. Fourteen per cent of poultry and 13 per cent of pork had traces of salmonella, and E. coli was present in 60 per cent of pork, 70 per cent of beef, 80 per cent of chicken and 90 per cent of turkey products. This is a terrifying prospect. But the most immediate threat to our food security is the disruption of fresh food supplies imported from Europe, which Llyr Gruffydd has already referred to, in the event of a worst-case scenario of a 'no deal' Brexit. We learned last week that the UK Government has suppressed this information to devolved Governments, preventing you from having all the information that you need to prepare for such an eventuality. As Wales imports most of our vegetables and fruit from Europe, what can be done now to increase our production of these important aspects of our daily lives, and to protect people from massive price rises and shortages, to which low-income families will be particularly vulnerable?

Thank you. You highlight two areas of great concern, and those were around our animal welfare and food standards. Of course, you are quite right; they are under threat, and the UK Government did have the opportunity to protect them in legislation and didn't do so on Monday evening with the amendments that went through the House of Lords. Your point about information not being shared with us, as the UK Government always said they would, is clearly a matter of concern to myself and my ministerial colleagues, and I'm aware that Jeremy Miles, the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, has written to Michael Gove on that issue also.

On your specific question around horticulture, again, I think the most effective immediate step to protect people from higher prices and reduced choice would be for the UK Government to secure a trade deal with the European Union—our closest neighbours and our biggest market. We cannot produce all the fruit and vegetables that we consume in Wales because of constraints on our climate and our geography. So, trade absolutely remains essential. But you'll be aware that the Welsh Government have supported the production of fruit and vegetables here through agricultural land mapping and through horticultural business support. We've provided grants to farm businesses, we have several schemes to encourage more fruit and veg to be grown here in Wales, and I'm pleased to see these grants being taken up. I should just say, I do want to reassure Members that our food supply system is secure, but the best way to keep it that way and to avoid unnecessary price increases is, as I say, for the UK Government to secure a trade deal with the European Union.

Before I call Nick Ramsay, just to say that I have noticed a growing tendency for self-promotion amongst the Zoom backgrounds of various Members. I think I can see at least three this afternoon on Zoom backgrounds. So, I will be sending out guidance on this issue to all Members, remembering, of course, that Members in the Chamber have no opportunity for self-promotion on any backgrounds that they have. I seek to treat all Members equally at all times, whether in Zoom or in the Chamber. Nick Ramsay. 

Diolch, Llywydd. I've got Janet Finch-Saunders behind me, so that's all the self-promotion I need for this question. [Laughter.]

Minister, we talk a lot about building back better and building back greener in this Chamber. It strikes me that expanding horticulture is one way that we can do this. Of course, Welsh horticulture is massively supported by seasonal agricultural workers coming to the UK to pick fruit and vegetables on farms, and this has continued through the pandemic, as I believe that they've been allowed to self-isolate for 14 days on the farm where they work and live. Can you look at ways that these exemptions can be extended, or will you have discussions with the UK Government if it comes under their remit? This won't just be of benefit to horticulture; I understand that, in the run up to Christmas, there's a shortage of trained poultry processors as well, which could be plugged with an eight-week extension to the exemption for seasonal migrant workers.

Thank you. We were certainly very concerned about seasonal agricultural workers not being able to come to the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right at the beginning, probably back in April, I was involved in weekly discussions with the UK Government around this issue. Certainly, as we continue to go through the year, as you say, it's not just fruit pickers or vegetable pickers; there are other seasonal workers who we rely on. They are conversations that I do have with the UK Government, and I'm sure that other ministerial colleagues do too.