8. Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: The Agriculture (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:35 pm on 27 September 2022.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 5:35, 27 September 2022

Minister, can I just say 'congratulations', not just to you, but to all those who have helped bring it to this stage? This is a significant moment and, as a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee as well, we're looking forward to getting our teeth into a piece of legislation here in Wales, made in Wales, and really wrestling with this. And it's been a long journey to get here, and your doggedness is to be admired.

Can I just turn, Minister, because these things don't stand in isolation of the wider context of legislation and policy, both here and across the UK as well, quite interestingly? So, in response to the launch of the Welsh agricultural Bill, RSPB Cymru said that RSPB Cymru welcomes the new Welsh agriculture Bill, which will work for people, nature and climate. It'll help shape Welsh farming and the fate of Wales's wildlife for generations to come. They believe this is a big opportunity for Wales to secure a nature-positive future. There has been a real contrasting response this week in England. RSPB England responded to the scrapping of similar proposals in England, but also the environmental protections that were announced in the mini budget, saying,

'Make no mistake, we are angry. This Government has today launched an attack on nature. We don't use the words that follow lightly. We are entering uncharted territory.'

The reason this is important is because they turn to the issue of the EU retained legislation that is proposed and the intention there that they perceive of a levelling down, not just in England, but in Wales as well. Minister, I wonder if you could take those concerns on board. Should we be worried? Are RSPB rightly concerned that there may be—may be—an intent here for this bonfire of deregulation in England to extend that across Wales as well?