A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee.

 

About the Bill

 

The Bill includes provision for:

• Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and also makes provision relating to support for or in connection with agriculture in Wales;
• Allowing for Welsh Ministers to continue making agricultural support payments to farmers during a transition period (policy proposals on transition are set out in the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) publication);
• Amending the Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) 1986 to provide tenants with a route to dispute resolution in certain circumstances;
• Replacing the time limited powers taken for Welsh Ministers in the Agriculture Act (AA) 2020, Schedule 5, which expire in December 2024;
• Altering the Forestry Act 1967 to give Natural Resources Wales (NRW) the power to add conditions to amend, suspend or revoke felling licenses to prevent felling that would contradict other environmental legislation; and
• The prohibition of Snares and Glue Traps.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

BillStageAct

The Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 [external website] became law in Wales on 17 August 2023.

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 3.6 MB) [external website]

 

A guide to Consolidation Bills is available in the Guidance to support the operation of Standing Order 26C on Consolidation Bills.

 

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

 

¬¬¬Date of Royal Assent (17 August 2023)

Royal Assent (PDF 120KB) was given on 17 August 2023.

 

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¬¬¬Post Stage 4 (28 June 2023)

 

The Secretary of State for Wales (PDF 121KB) and the Counsel General wrote to the Llywydd (PDF 163KB) to advise that they would not be referring the Agriculture (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 and 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006

 

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¬¬¬Stage 4, Passing of the Bill in Plenary (27 June 2023)

 

Stage 4 proceedings took place in Plenary on 27 June 2023.

 

Agriculture (Wales) Bill, as passed

 

Presiding Officer's statement in accordance with Section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006

 

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¬¬¬Report Stage (25 May 2023 – 20 June 2023)

 

Following the completion of Stage 3 proceedings on Tuesday 16 May, a motion to consider the Bill at Report Stage was agreed on Wednesday 24 May.

 

Report Stage commenced on Thursday 25 May.

 

Report Stage proceedings for the Agriculture (Wales) Bill took place in Plenary on Tuesday 20 June 2023.

 

 

 

Agriculture (Wales) Bill, as amended at Report Stage

 

Revised Explanatory Memorandum – following stage 3 – 13 June 2023

 

Notice of Amendments – 9 June 2023

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 9 June 2023

 

Correspondence

>>>> 

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd - 13 June 2023 (PDF 196KB)

<<<< 

 

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¬¬¬Stage 3 (24 March 2023 – 16 May 2023)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 24 March 2023.

 

Stage 3 consideration took place in Plenary on 16 May 2023 to consider amendments to the Bill (as amended at Stage 2).

 

Agriculture (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3

 

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 3

 

Notice of Amendments – 4 May 2023

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 4 May 2023

Notice of Amendments - 5 May 2023

Notice of Amendments – 9 May 2023

Marshalled list of Amendments – 10 May 2023

Grouping of Amendments list – 11 May 2023

 

Correspondence

>>>> 

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd to the British Pest Control Association - 15 May 2023 (PDF 183KB)

>>>Letter from the Chair to the British Pest Control Association – 11 May 2023 (PDF 91KB)

>>>Letter from the British Pest Control Association – 3 April 2023 (PDF 802KB)

<<<< 

 

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (8 February 2023 – 23 March 2023)

Stage 2 began on 8 February 2023. Details of tabled amendments are published here.

 

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee agreed on 16 February 2023, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be: Sections 1 to 32; Schedule 1; Section 33; Sections 35 to 41; Section 34 – Overview of Part 4; Sections 43 to 45; Section 42 – Overview of Part 5; Sections 46 to 52; Schedule 2; Schedule 3; Sections 53 to 54; Long Title

 

Stage 2 consideration took place in committee on 23 March 2023.

 

Agriculture (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 2

 

Printing changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2

 

Explanatory Memorandum, revised after Stage 2

 

Notice of Amendments – 10 March 2023

Notice of Amendments – 13 March 2023

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table – 14 March 2023

Notice of Amendments – 14 March 2023

Notice of Amendments – 15 March 2023

Notice of Amendments – 16 March 2023

Marshalled list of Amendments – 23 March 2023

Grouping of Amendments list – 23 March 2023

 

Correspondence

>>>> 

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 9 May 2023 (PDF 175KB)

<<<< 

 

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¬¬¬ Financial Resolution

 

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 7 February 2023.

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¬¬¬Stage 1 (26 September 2022 – 7 February 2023)

 

A debate took place in Plenary on 7 February 2023. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

 

Bill summary (PDF, 438KB)

Bill summary - infographic

Written consultation responses

 

Committee dates

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
29 September 2022	Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)	Transcript	View meeting
5 October 2022	Evidence session 1	Transcript	View meeting
12 October 2022	Evidence session 2	Transcript	View meeting
20 October 2022	Evidence session 3 Evidence session 4	Transcript	View meeting
27 October 2022	Evidence session 5 Evidence session 6	Transcript	View meeting
9 November 2022	Evidence Session 7 Evidence Session 8 Evidence Session 9	Transcript	View meeting
16 November 2022	Evidence Session 10	Transcript	View meeting
24 November 2022	Consider key issues and draft recommendations for Bill report

 

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee laid its report on 27 January 2023 (PDF 1,491KB).

 

The Committee received a response from the Welsh Government on 7 March 2023 (PDF 248KB)

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
21 November 2022	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View Meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on 27 January 2023 (PDF 1099KB)

 

The Committee received a response (PDF 383KB) from the Welsh Government on 7 March 2023.

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
5 October 2022	Financial implications of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill - Private
9 November 2022	Financial implications of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill: Evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

 

The Finance Committee laid its report on 27 January 2023 (PDF 891KB).

The Committee received a response (PDF 280KB) from the Welsh Government on 03 February 2023.

 

Correspondence

>>>> 

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 19 December 2022 (PDF 141KB)

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee – 16 December 2022 (PDF 204KB)

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 8 December 2022 (PDF 243KB)

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 7 December 2022 (PDF 161KB)

>>>Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd - 28 November 2022 (PDF 78KB)

>>>Letter from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd - 25 November 2022 (PDF 124KB)

>>>Letter from Public Health Wales – 15 November 2022 (PDF 314KB)

>>>Letter to Public Health Wales - 11 November 2022 (PDF 77KB)

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 1 November 2022 (PDF 317KB)

>>>Letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – 24 October 2022 (PDF 187KB)

>>>Comparison of Schedule 5 Agriculture Act 2020 provisions against Agriculture (Wales) Bill provisions - 5 October 2022 (PDF 723KB)

<<<< 

 

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (26 September 2022)

 

Agriculture (Wales) Bill (PDF 446KB), as introduced

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 3.4MB)

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 26 September 2022 (PDF 170KB)

 

Statement of Policy Intent (PDF 227KB)

 

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill (PDF 39.3KB): 6 October 2022

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Contact information

Clerk: Lara Date

Phone: 0300 200 6565

 

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff    

CF99 1SN

 

E-mail: SeneddEconomy@senedd.wales