5th Report - The economic and cultural impacts of trade and environmental policy on family farms in Wales
Select Committee
Welsh Affairs Committee
HC 607
7 April 2022
Recommendations
8 results
2
Accepted in Part
Farming communities are vital to rural Wales and play an important role in defining and...
Recommendation
Farming communities are vital to rural Wales and play an important role in defining and maintaining the distinctive culture in Wales, including sustaining the Welsh language. While language and culture are devolved responsibilities, the UK Government should consider how its …
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Government Response Summary
The government describes the new Food and Drink Export Council and agri-food attache network, which could help protect the unique cultural contribution of Welsh farming communities. However, it does not specifically commit to adding cultural impact to the impact assessment process for future trade negotiations and to the terms of reference for the work of the Trade and Agriculture Commission.
Wales Office
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3
Acknowledged
Para 24
We welcome the inclusion of a member of the new Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC)...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
DIT publishes scoping and impact assessments at the launch and conclusion of new FTA negotiations which provide analysis of the potential impacts on the nations and regions of the UK, including Wales, alongside impacts on sectors, including agriculture.
Wales Office
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5
Deferred
We have previously recommended that the UK Government should publish a Wales- specific impact assessment...
Recommendation
We have previously recommended that the UK Government should publish a Wales- specific impact assessment for FTAs. While this recommendation was previously rejected by the UK Government, we believe that a Welsh impact assessment continues to command substantial support from …
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Government Response Summary
The response discusses climate change and agricultural emissions, joint efforts with the Welsh government, and the Inter-Ministerial Group, but doesn't address the specific request for a Wales-specific impact assessment or a statement on the impact of FTAs on the agricultural sector in Wales, which redirects the recommendation to a general climate change policy discussion.
Wales Office
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8
Deferred
Para 38
While we acknowledge and respect the fact that environmental and planning policy are devolved competencies,...
Recommendation
While we acknowledge and respect the fact that environmental and planning policy are devolved competencies, we strongly encourage the Welsh Government to reassess whether it currently has sufficiently strong safeguards in place for its tree planting schemes. In particular, we …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the Lump Sum Exit Scheme for farmers in England and sharing information with the Welsh Government, but does not address the original recommendation regarding safeguards for tree planting schemes or improving transparency and regulation of carbon offset schemes in Wales.
Wales Office
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9
Acknowledged
Climate change is already having a clear impact on farming.
Recommendation
Climate change is already having a clear impact on farming. Changing weather patterns alter the farming environment and create greater instability. Wetter weather will increase challenges to livestock production with increased flooding of fields potentially reducing the crop production used …
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Government Response Summary
The Government recognises the challenge of climate change and the need for swift action, mentioning working closely with the Welsh Government and other Devolved Administrations through established governance arrangements to ensure a joined-up and collaborative approach to delivering net zero via the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Inter-Ministerial Group.
Wales Office
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11
Accepted
Although agricultural policy is a devolved responsibility, we heard calls for the four governments to...
Recommendation
Although agricultural policy is a devolved responsibility, we heard calls for the four governments to ensure that they discuss changes to their respective agriculture policies. The UK Government should consult via the new Interministerial Group on Environment, Food and Rural …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that arrangements are already in place 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.
Wales Office
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13
Accepted
Para 57
The future of farming in Wales depends on the viability of career options for younger...
Recommendation
The future of farming in Wales depends on the viability of career options for younger generations to come through. We call on the UK and Welsh governments to work closely together to support and encourage new entrants; for example, respecting …
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Government Response Summary
The Government will provide funding to create lasting opportunities for new entrants in England to access land, infrastructure and support to establish successful and innovative businesses. The UK Government will share information about the operation of the scheme with the Welsh Government as the scheme progresses.
Wales Office
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14
Accepted
We are aware of the importance of succession for family farms.
Recommendation
We are aware of the importance of succession for family farms. One challenge for new entrants into the farming industry is the lack of opportunities available for older farmers to step aside and plan for their succession. We recommend that …
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Government Response Summary
The UK Government has launched a Lump Sum Exit Scheme for farmers in England, which could help farmers leave the industry and open up opportunities for new entrants. They will share information about the operation of the scheme with the Welsh Government as the scheme progresses.
Wales Office
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Conclusions (6) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 14
Agriculture plays a significant role in the Welsh economy, employing a higher percentage of the workforce in Wales than in other parts of the UK. However, the agriculture sector in Wales is dominated by large sub-sectors such as livestock production and dairy farming. At the same time it is characterised …
Government Response Summary
DIT publishes scoping and impact assessments at the launch and conclusion of new FTA negotiations, including an assessment of the economic impacts on UK’s regions and nations and recognizes the unique cultural contribution of Welsh farming communities.
4
Conclusion
Not Addressed
As we concluded in our report on the implications for Wales of the UK/Australia FTA, we are acutely aware of the concerns held by Welsh farmers of the potential competitive threat posed by FTAs. However, while it is far from certain that the UK will be flooded with produce from …
Government Response Summary
The response discusses the UK Woodland Carbon Code, Peatland Code, and Land Carbon Registry, as well as land ownership transparency, but does not address the committee's concerns about the impact of FTAs on Welsh agriculture or negotiating tactics that could disproportionately impact Wales.
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 36
We recognise the importance of increasing woodland to tackle the climate emergency. However, there are unintended consequences emerging as a result of planting too many trees, of the wrong type, in the wrong place. The move to net zero also needs to be better understood—something that would be helped by …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the concerns regarding companies buying Welsh farmland for tree planting and describes arrangements for cooperation between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations on agricultural support issues. They mention the UK Agriculture Policy Collaboration Group (PCG) and the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (MMG).
7
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 37
We oppose any attempts to ‘game the system’ by investing in viable farming land purely in order to offset carbon emissions accrued by companies elsewhere. Tree planting schemes are an important pillar in attempts to preserve our natural environment for future generations and were never intended to be exploited to …
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses attracting new talent into food and farming and a new entrant scheme in England, and sharing information with the Welsh Government, but does not address the original conclusion regarding 'gaming the system' by investing in viable farming land to offset carbon emissions.
10
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 49
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government states that arrangements are already in place 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.
12
Conclusion
Para 56
Farming is economically, socially and culturally important in Wales. We recognise and endorse the vision of a future where the natural environment is cared for, prime agricultural land is cultivated effectively and appropriately, and where the next generation has a pathway into the industry while older farmers have a viable …