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
2 results
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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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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Conclusions (2) 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.
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).