Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:07 pm on 21 September 2021.
Minister, I've read your statement with interest and I really do welcome the commitments that you've got in it to work with farmers, and especially, as has been mentioned around this Chamber, with active farmers. You and I used to meet before I ever came to this place, and that was something I always used to press with you, that support should go to active farmers. I'm also pleased at the £7 million that you've also committed in there to Farming Connect. As a past member of the rural leadership programme, I think it does an amazing job of upskilling farmers right across the country and sharing best practice across the sector, which is really, really welcome, and that commitment I'm glad to see.
Also I hear in your statement about the Glastir Advanced scheme being brought forward, and I do think that's really, really positive. That has had some huge benefits for our farmers and our rural economy, and how that money has been re-jigged around to really support local businesses has been great. But, on that, can you confirm—you did say about the schemes being rolled forward—that the new Glastir schemes will be open to new people to come in—I think that's really important, that new people can come in to Glastir to help improve the environment—and also whether the capital works will form part of the new Glastir Advanced scheme? Because I think that did a really great job of doing the streamside corridors, planting hedges, and also improving historic structures et cetera, which really do help boost Wales. So, I'd like to hear whether that's going to be included.
And also, finally, on that, will there be any variations to current contracts? Because as you know, Minister, farmers are locked into their current contracts, and if they want to extend it they've got to stay with the status quo. I think it'd be really beneficial for our farmers if we could have some variations in the contracts to allow them to diversify a little bit, to help their farm and also the environment. So, thank you very much, Llywydd, and diolch.