Gilestone Farm

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:07 pm on 18 May 2022.

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Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 3:07, 18 May 2022

Thank you for your statement, Minister. Over the last week, I have been inundated with phone calls, e-mails and social media comments around the Welsh Labour Government's decision to buy Gilestone Farm in Talybont-on-Usk. I, and many of my constituents, have some very valid questions over the purchase and letting of the farm to the owners of the Green Man Festival. They have some varied points that they would like to put to you, and I am going to do that now.

Minister, you have told us what the purchase price was. So, I'd like to know: was that subject to an independent evaluation by a district valuer? What tendering exercise was carried out to find a suitable tenant for the farm? Was anybody local offered the opportunity to apply for it, and if not, why not? What is the long-term ambition for the farm, given the current food security issues that we have, and why has a productive farm been taken out of use?

What economic exercise was done by the Welsh Labour Government to ensure that the 174 jobs that have been quoted can be realised when farms in my constituency can hardly employ a single person? Finally, Dirprwy Lywydd, is it now the Welsh Labour Government's policy to use taxpayer money to purchase farms and rent them out to private businesses and individuals to deliver on its biodiversity and climate change projects?