Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Wales Office has not adequately represented Welsh farming needs in Whitehall
Conclusion
Farming practices and conditions in Wales differ significantly from those in England, and it is essential that these differences are fully understood by policy makers in Westminster. In its discussions with the UK Government, it is incumbent upon the Welsh Government to make the case for Welsh farming, but it is essential that the Wales Office works to ensure that the needs of Welsh farming are accounted for in Whitehall as part of UK-wide policy development. Our report plainly shows that in this endeavour the Wales Office under successive Governments has not been as successful as it needs to be to build confidence among farmers in Wales. (Conclusion, Paragraph 121)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Wales Office already supports UK Government departments in designing policies that reflect Wales' needs and works with them to assess policy impact in the agricultural sector.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Wales Office supports UK Government departments to design policies that both reflect the particular needs of Wales and augment the devolved responsibilities of the Welsh Government in areas such as agriculture and the farming sector. This includes working with departments to assess the impact of their policies as appropriate.