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
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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Conclusions (1) Observations and findings — click to expand
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.