Recommendations & Conclusions
14 items
1
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
Agriculture plays a significant role in the Welsh economy, employing a higher percentage of the workforce in Wales than in other parts of the UK. However, the agriculture sector in Wales is dominated by large sub-sectors such as livestock production and dairy farming. At the same time it is characterised …
Government response. DIT publish scoping and impact assessments at the launch and conclusion of new FTA negotiations, respectively. The purpose of these assessments are to provide Parliament and the public with information on the potential economic impacts of an agreement. These include …
Wales Office
2
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
Farming communities are vital to rural Wales and play an important role in defining and maintaining the distinctive culture in Wales, including sustaining the Welsh language. While language and culture are devolved responsibilities, the UK Government should consider how its approach to relevant reserved policy areas can help to protect …
Government response. We are establishing a new Food and Drink Export Council which will bring together UK Government (UKG), the Devolved Administrations and industry partners, collaborating to harness collective capability, expertise, and resources to turbo boost exports. UKG will work in partnership …
Wales Office
3
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We welcome the inclusion of a member of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) who has experience of the agricultural landscape in Wales, along with moves to recruit new agri-food attachés, and the establishment of a new Food and Drink Export Council. However, to be successful, the Welsh Government …
Government response. As previously outlined, DIT publish scoping and impact assessments at the launch and conclusion of new FTA negotiations. These provide analysis of the potential impacts on the nations and regions of the UK, including Wales, alongside impacts on sectors, including …
Wales Office
4
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
As we concluded in our report on the implications for Wales of the UK/Australia FTA, we are acutely aware of the concerns held by Welsh farmers of the potential competitive threat posed by FTAs. However, while it is far from certain that the UK will be flooded with produce from …
Government response. The UK Woodland Carbon Code and the UK Peatland Code were developed with support from the UK and Devolved Governments. These Codes set the standard and provide robust arrangements for the registration, monitoring, verification and reporting of projects to deliver …
Wales Office
5
Recommendation
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We have previously recommended that the UK Government should publish a Wales- specific impact assessment for FTAs. While this recommendation was previously rejected by the UK Government, we believe that a Welsh impact assessment continues to command substantial support from the sector as well as from the Welsh Government. We …
Government response. The Government recognises the challenge of climate change and the need for swift action. We are looking at ways to reduce agricultural emissions controlled directly within the farm boundary, considering a broad range of measures including improvements in on- farm …
Wales Office
6
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We recognise the importance of increasing woodland to tackle the climate emergency. However, there are unintended consequences emerging as a result of planting too many trees, of the wrong type, in the wrong place. The move to net zero also needs to be better understood—something that would be helped by …
Government response. There are arrangements in place that are working well between the UK Government (DEFRA) and the Devolved Administrations to co-operate on agricultural support issues under the Provisional Common Support Framework on Agricultural Support - the non- legislative framework for UK …
Wales Office
7
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We oppose any attempts to ‘game the system’ by investing in viable farming land purely in order to offset carbon emissions accrued by companies elsewhere. Tree planting schemes are an important pillar in attempts to preserve our natural environment for future generations and were never intended to be exploited to …
Government response. Attracting new talent into food and farming is vital for a sustainable and productive agriculture sector in England. As set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan 2021–2024, this Government will provide funding to create lasting opportunities for new entrants in …
Wales Office
8
Recommendation
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
While we acknowledge and respect the fact that environmental and planning policy are devolved competencies, we strongly encourage the Welsh Government to reassess whether it currently has sufficiently strong safeguards in place for its tree planting schemes. In particular, we draw their attention to the Woodland Trust’s call for a …
Government response. The UK Government has launched a Lump Sum Exit Scheme for farmers in England. Evidence indicates that some farmers who wish to retire or leave the industry can find it difficult to do so and that lack of finance can …
Wales Office
9
Recommendation
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
Climate change is already having a clear impact on farming. Changing weather patterns alter the farming environment and create greater instability. Wetter weather will increase challenges to livestock production with increased flooding of fields potentially reducing the crop production used to supply bedding and feed. We are concerned that a …
Government response. The Government recognises the challenge of climate change and the need for swift action. We are looking at ways to reduce agricultural emissions controlled directly within the farm boundary, considering a broad range of measures including improvements in on- farm …
Wales Office
10
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We recognise the vital role that farmers play in food production and acknowledge the desire of UK and Welsh governments to move to a system of funding for public goods. However, we are concerned about the impact that transitioning from the existing system of payments for food production will have …
Government response. There are arrangements in place that are working well between the UK Government (DEFRA) and the Devolved Administrations to co-operate on agricultural support issues under the Provisional Common Support Framework on Agricultural Support - the non- legislative framework for UK …
Wales Office
11
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
Although agricultural policy is a devolved responsibility, we heard calls for the four governments to ensure that they discuss changes to their respective agriculture policies. The UK Government should consult via the new Interministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with the devolved governments on potential areas for collaboration …
Government response. There are arrangements in place that are working well between the UK Government (DEFRA) and the Devolved Administrations to co-operate on agricultural support issues under the Provisional Common Support Framework on Agricultural Support - the non- legislative framework for UK …
Wales Office
12
Conclusion
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
Farming is economically, socially and culturally important in Wales. We recognise and endorse the vision of a future where the natural environment is cared for, prime agricultural land is cultivated effectively and appropriately, and where the next generation has a pathway into the industry while older farmers have a viable …
Wales Office
13
Recommendation
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
The future of farming in Wales depends on the viability of career options for younger generations to come through. We call on the UK and Welsh governments to work closely together to support and encourage new entrants; for example, respecting the role of both freeholder and tenant and the different …
Government response. Attracting new talent into food and farming is vital for a sustainable and productive agriculture sector in England. As set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan 2021–2024, this Government will provide funding to create lasting opportunities for new entrants in …
Wales Office
14
Recommendation
5th Report - The economic and cultural …
We are aware of the importance of succession for family farms. One challenge for new entrants into the farming industry is the lack of opportunities available for older farmers to step aside and plan for their succession. We recommend that the UK and Welsh governments work together to understand the …
Government response. The UK Government has launched a Lump Sum Exit Scheme for farmers in England. Evidence indicates that some farmers who wish to retire or leave the industry can find it difficult to do so and that lack of finance can …
Wales Office