NDM8440 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Agriculture

NDM8440 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales, with agriculture contributing to over 220,000 jobs.

2. Notes that for every £1 invested in the agricultural sector, £9 is generated for the wider economy.

3. Celebrates the role that family farms play in supporting the Welsh language and social fabric of rural Wales.  

4. Regrets that the Welsh Government have introduced cuts to the 2023-2024 rural affairs budget totalling £37.5 million.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the basic payment scheme budget for 2024.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose the Senedd:

1.  Agrees with the Welsh Government principle that its policy must keep Welsh farmers on the land.

2.  Welcomes the decision by the Welsh Government to maintain the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and not to follow the decision in England to cut payments to farmers by up to 55 per cent.

3.  Regrets the harm caused to the ability of Welsh farming to create economic value and jobs by:

a)  UK Government immigration policy since EU exit;

b)  the calamitous tenure of the previous UK Prime Minister;

c)  the UK Government's decision to remove £243m from farm support funding in Wales; and

d)  the decision by the UK Government not to provide a long-term funding commitment to farm support.

4.  Agrees that a fair and rapid transition to sustainable farming methods across the whole of Wales is needed, to strengthen the economic position of Welsh farmers and to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature emergency.