5. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Future domestic Rural Development Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:44 pm on 23 February 2021.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:44, 23 February 2021

Thank you, Llyr, for those questions and comments. I think what you were saying about the well-being of future generations Act is absolutely vital, and it's really important that the future RDP responds broadly to it, as you say, to enable social, economic, environmental and cultural opportunities across rural sectors. And I think, in my opening statement, I did refer to that.

It has to fit in with Welsh Government's priorities, and listening to the previous oral statement by my colleague Ken Skates, it's really important that we reduce those barriers to economic development that there are in our rural communities, and better position our rural communities to attract and retain jobs and investment. It's also really important that the future RDP continues to respond to the statutory requirements of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 as well.

You asked me for commitments around funding, and shared my concerns regarding the UK Government reneging on its commitment. Obviously, I can't commit full domestic funding for the next financial year—where would that come from? I go back to what I was saying: it's all very well, as you say, Conservatives telling me that I've got to plug gaps; in Government, you have to budget and make sure that that budget is spread across. Where do you make those choices? So, you know, to take it from somewhere else to make sure the rural communities don't, unfortunately, have that gap, caused by the UK Government, is obviously very difficult. We will continue to co-fund the EU RDP and we stand ready to commit that funding in the future.

I think you raise a very important point around processing, and certainly, prior to COVID-19, we'd seen a loss of some of our processing capacity, which we could ill afford to do, and I think that is an area where there will need to be a focus.

I don't agree with you around any consultation I've ever had not being meaningful; I've always thought that it's absolutely vital that the consultation is meaningful. And, okay, we're having a third one around our sustainable farming management scheme coming forward, but don't tell me you haven't seen changes in those consultations to reflect the previous consultation. I always feel that the consultations have been very welcomed as we go towards having an agricultural Bill, and you'll be aware that I published the White Paper in December ahead of the next term of Government.