Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Paragraph: 49
We recognise the vital role that farmers play in food production and acknowledge the desire...
Conclusion
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 on the agricultural sector.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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 collaboration, coordination and cooperation on agricultural support. Officials who operate these arrangements work together closely on agricultural support issues covered by the Framework which include: • Agricultural spending and associated regulation and enforcement; • Marketing standards; • Crisis measures, Public Intervention (PI) and Private Storage Aid (PSA); • Cross border holdings (within the UK) and • Data collection and sharing. The main fora for official level discussion and decision-making are the UK Agriculture Policy Collaboration Group (PCG) and the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (MMG). The PCG’s role is to share knowledge, information and good practice proactively between the four nations and to discuss and coordinate policy innovation and developments in relation to agricultural support schemes and wider issues of common concern that affect sustainable agriculture priorities across the UK. The MMG monitors and assesses the impact of market developments across the UK. The group meets monthly and it monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade and recent developments, enabling it to provide forewarning of any atypical market movements. During the Covid-19 pandemic this group has provided a forum for DEFRA and the devolved administrations to share the latest market and stakeholder information.