Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales

Status: Closed Opened: 21 Jul 2021 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 8 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

The Welsh Affairs Committee is conducting a short inquiry to explore the impact of major policy changes (particularly, but not exclusively, international trade and climate change) on family farms in Wales. Read inquiry launch and terms of reference

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - The economic and cultural impacts of trade and… HC 607 7 Apr 2022 14 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
5 Recommendation 5th Report - The economic and cultural … Deferred

We have previously recommended that the UK Government should publish a Wales- specific impact assessment...

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The response discusses climate change and agricultural emissions, joint efforts with the Welsh government, and the Inter-Ministerial Group, but doesn't address the specific request for a Wales-specific impact assessment or a statement on the impact of FTAs on the agricultural sector in Wales, which redirects …
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Wales Office
7 Conclusion 5th Report - The economic and cultural … Deferred

We oppose any attempts to ‘game the system’ by investing in viable farming land purely...

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses attracting new talent into food and farming and a new entrant scheme in England, and sharing information with the Welsh Government, but does not address the original conclusion regarding 'gaming the system' by investing in viable farming land to offset carbon …
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Wales Office
8 Recommendation 5th Report - The economic and cultural … Deferred

While we acknowledge and respect the fact that environmental and planning policy are devolved competencies,...

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response discusses the Lump Sum Exit Scheme for farmers in England and sharing information with the Welsh Government, but does not address the original recommendation regarding safeguards for tree planting schemes or improving transparency and regulation of carbon offset schemes in Wales.
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Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
2 Feb 2022 James Owen · Welsh Government, Jon Travis · Welsh Government, Julie James MS · Welsh Government, Vicky Jones · Welsh Government View ↗
24 Nov 2021 David Williams · Daily Mail, Dr Nick Fenwick · Farmers Union of Wales, John Davies · National Farmers Union Cymru, Professor Terry Marsden · Cardiff University, William Jones · Rural Affairs Committee, Wales YFC View ↗

Who gave evidence

9 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
David Williams · Journalist Daily Mail 1
Dr Nick Fenwick · Head of Policy Farmers Union of Wales 1
James Owen · Head of Land Management Reform Welsh Government 1
John Davies · President National Farmers Union Cymru 1
Jon Travis · Head of Forestry Reform Welsh Government 1
Julie James MS · Minister for Climate Change Welsh Government 1
Professor Terry Marsden · Emeritus Professor Cardiff University 1
Vicky Jones · Head of Agriculture, Sustainability and Developme… Welsh Government 1
William Jones · Chair Rural Affairs Committee, Wales YFC 1