Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
5th Report - The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales
Published 7 Apr 2022
Paragraph 24
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 and farming communities need to be fully engaged in the work of the new TAC and Export Council, as well as the work of the attachés. The UK Government should collaborate on the terms of reference for the Export Council with the devolved governments and farming organisations, and commit to having at least one council member with expertise and experience of the agri-food sector in Wales. We also call for a proportionate number of the new agri-food attachés to have expertise and knowledge and understanding of the distinctive characteristics of the food and drink sector in Wales, food production in Wales and the impact of decisions upon these areas.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, 5th Report - The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales (HC 607), paragraph 24, 7 April 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 14 July 2022 (deadline 7 June 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government states that it "has carefully considered the Committee's recommendations and has responded to each in turn", mostly describing existing or planned work and, in several areas, noting that policy is devolved and its measures apply to England.
- On trade, it is "establishing a new Food and Drink Export Council" with the Devolved Administrations and industry, whose remit and membership will be agreed in partnership. It "recognises the need" for agri-food attachés with Welsh experience.
- On FTA impact reporting, it points to existing scoping and impact assessments published at the launch and conclusion of negotiations, which cover the nations and regions of the UK, including Wales. It does not state a commitment to publish a separate Wales statement or cumulative modelling data.
- On carbon offsets, it points to the UK Land Carbon Registry for projects under the Woodland and Peatland Codes. For England, it says it has "no plans to monitor the purchase of viable agricultural land".
- On new entrants, it says its funding and new entrant scheme apply to England. Pilots are aimed to launch "this year", after which it "will consider" whether there is a rationale for capital grants. It will share information on the scheme and the Lump Sum Exit Scheme with the Welsh Government.