I must admit, I'm afraid I have to disagree with the Minister and the Welsh Government on why they have laid this LCM today and believe that this is a waste of the Senedd's time, and I'm not the only one who believes so. The technicalities of the Bill, as set out in annex A of the explanatory notes, clearly states that the UK Government does not consider that consent is required from this Senedd concerning any part of this Bill, a view that has been acknowledged by the Welsh Government in paragraph 19 of the LCM. In addition to this, the Senedd's own legal services also do not agree with the Welsh Government's assessments that these clauses require Senedd consent. But, if the Welsh Government truly believed that this LCM was necessary, then it should have been tabled within two weeks of the Bill being laid in the House of Commons, not the seven months in which it's taken the Welsh Government to do so. 

Speaking to the Bill itself, the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that has the ability to transform the agricultural industry, aiding us in our combined resilience against some of the most significant challenges ahead of us. Be that food security, climate change, disease or cost, precision breeding can be a weapon in our arsenal, securing the future of our agricultural industry for generations to come. 

Now, we must be clear that precision breeding is not genetically modified crops. This isn't artificially adding modified genetics. Rather, this is using pre-existing traditional methods to supercharge investment in UK crop innovation. Precision breeding takes what occurs naturally over hundreds of years and expedites it in a controlled, ethical and safe way. This science is already happening. The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University, known as IBERS, has led pioneering work, similar to that of precision-bred organisms—PBOs—to develop high-performance grass and clover varieties that are already being used by livestock farmers. Sadly, the Welsh Government's short-sightedness on PBOs and this Bill could potentially see Welsh universities, Welsh academia, miss out on opportunities to be at the forefront of efforts to tackle global food security. Think of the missed opportunity, removing the hope, of Welsh drought- and disease-resistant wheat seed not going to sub-Saharan Africa to help end poverty—an unintended consequence of this legislation not being adopted having a colossal detrimental effect on our Wales and Africa humanitarian programme. 

So, given its undisputable benefits, applicable right across the board from public health to climate change, I am left disappointed and frustrated that the Welsh Government declined to join the Bill last year. If English farmers can increase their yield through PBOs, then this leaves Welsh farmers in Wales at a clear competitive disadvantage. I noted with interest the Minister's concerns, in particular those related to labelling, trade and science, although, across all three fronts, I'm afraid, I must strongly disagree. Concerning the science, DEFRA has shared the technical analysis with you. You possess everything the UK Government possesses. Yet, despite this, you've decided to come to a different conclusion. 

On trade, I would urge the Minister to look at the bigger picture. PBO products will not reach our shelves for at least five years post Royal consent. What is sought is to develop a statutory framework to ensure that, once our trading partners make the same advancements, we have the necessary ability to immediately start trading with our neighbours, because we know the European Union has indicated that they too wish to take a similar route to the UK Government. 

And lastly, labelling. The Food Standards Agency will only authorise products for sale if they are judged to present no risk to health, do not mislead consumers, and do not have lower nutritional value than their traditionally bred counterparts. Based on scientific evidence, PBOs pose no greater risk than what you'll currently find on our supermarket shelves. No risk, but significantly greater reward—that's the opportunity missed by this Welsh Government.

Therefore, Dirprwy Lywydd, whilst we think this LCM is not required, it is before us today, so procedurally we will be voting in favour of the LCM. But we are left bitterly disappointed by the Welsh Government's view on this Bill and urge it to seriously reconsider its position. Diolch.