Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Farming communities are vital to rural Wales and play an important role in defining and...
Conclusion
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 the unique cultural contribution of Welsh farming communities. For example, the UK Government could consider adding cultural impact to the impact assessment process for future trade negotiations and to the terms of reference for the work of Trade and Agriculture Commission. (Paragraph 19) Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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 with the devolved administrations and industry to develop an Export Council and agree its remit and membership. A new Council reflects UKG’s strategy to promote exports from all parts of the UK, to help level up the country. The Council will be a genuine partnership and recognise and respect the unique and different approaches to supporting exports that have evolved in the different parts of the UK. The Council will strengthen partnership working between government and industry and harness all the resource available to ensure an ambitious approach to trade, including opportunities offered by new FTAs. It will bring together agri-food experts to share knowledge, good practice, market intelligence and capacity and thereby help to enhance the UK’s global reputation for quality and standards. We look forward to working with the Devolved Administrations and business to determine how that might best work. To provide further support, new DIT teams were recently established in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. These are complemented by a second major DIT site in Darlington and DEFRA’s regional network. The TAC’s role is specific and focused: it looks at the signed text of an FTA and provides independent analysis on whether the measures relating to trade in agricultural products are consistent with our domestic statutory protections–specifically those relating to animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment–across the UK. The TAC invited submissions from members of the public for their advice on the Australia and New Zealand FTAs and is likely to run a similar process for future FTAs. UKG recognises the need for our new agri-food attaché network to have experience of the Welsh agri-food industry, and knowledge of agri-food commodities from across the UK. DEFRA has engaged closely with the Welsh Government to coordinate our agri-food attaché network plans with their own strategy and overseas presence. We have encouraged the Welsh Government to share the job advertisements widely through their networks, to ensure strong candidates with a deep understanding of Welsh agri-food issues apply.