Written Statement: Future land management programme – update and next steps

This statement provides an update on the Welsh Government’s plans for a future land management programme.

Brexit and our land consultation

Over 12,000 responses were received and are still being analysed. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the individuals and organisations who responded to this important consultation.

In addition to Welsh Government officials’ consideration of responses, an independent research company has been commissioned to undertake a full analysis. This will ensure a robust and thorough appraisal of the consultation.

As the analysis has not yet concluded, I am unable to comment on the content of the responses or future decisions on our proposals. I intend to make an oral statement on this issue in May this year. At the same time I also intend to publish a summary of responses and an initial policy response.

It is also my intention to publish the next consultation document before the Royal Welsh Show this year. The time between now and then will be used to undertake further stakeholder engagement and ensure appropriate analysis can be prepared. This revised timing also reflects the continuing and increasing uncertainty over Brexit. I do not want to distract from the necessary contingency planning for “no deal”.

I would like to reiterate the 3 commitments I made last autumn.

First, no decisions will be made on future schemes until consultation responses have been reviewed and all other relevant considerations have been taken into account.

Second, no changes will be made to the existing Basic Payment Scheme without further consultation. To reflect this, I have already announced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will remain unchanged up to and including 2020, and a number of Glastir contract holders have been offered contract renewals until 2021. Therefore a transition to any new schemes I introduce will not begin until at least 2021.

Third, existing schemes will not be removed before new schemes are ready.

UK Agriculture Bill

I am today announcing I have secured agreement with the UK government on the remaining issue of disagreement in relation to the UK Agriculture Bill.

This matter concerns the provisions in the Bill which relate to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture. My statement of 12 September noted the Welsh Government’s view that the provisions required consent of the National Assembly. This is because of the strong and self-evident relationship between the WTO powers and devolved responsibilities of agriculture support and the implementation of international obligations. However, the UK government believes the powers relate to international trade and are reserved.

Our 2 governments have agreed a governance mechanism on how these powers will be used. This mechanism will sit alongside the provisions in the Bill. In the light of this agreement, the Welsh Government is able to recommend consent to the WTO provisions in the Bill.

We have agreed:

• the UK government will consult the devolved administrations, guided by the principles set out in the Intergovernmental Agreement before bringing forward regulations under the WTO clause
• Ministers will seek to proceed by agreement but in the event of a dispute relevant material will be made available to both Houses of Parliament before Parliament vote on the regulations
• Welsh Ministers will be responsible for proposing the initial classification of Welsh agricultural support schemes, and
• there will normally be a role for independent advice should the governments disagree on the appropriate classification of schemes or other relevant matters. The Secretary of State should have regard to this advice before making any decision and will share with the Devolved Administrations the advice, the decision and reason for decision.

n summary, the clear intent is on seeking agreement. However, where this is not feasible there are strong mechanisms for Welsh Ministers to exert their views.

These arrangements will be codified in a Memorandum of Understanding, and the UK government’s Secretary of State for Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs has agreed to put this on record in a statement on the floor of the House of Commons.

In my statement on 12 September I outlined the Welsh Government’s wish to see arrangements on the face of the Bill which would allow for the redistribution of Red Meat Levy across the UK and enable the Welsh red meat industry to access additional funds to best support the industry’s preparations and ability to react to the opportunities and inevitable change of Brexit. A government-supported amendment has been made and now forms part of the Bill. The Welsh Government is content the amendment provides appropriate means to resolve the long standing issue of repatriation of the red meat levy.

Now these 2 issues are resolved, I will lay a supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum before the Assembly. Further memoranda may be required if amendments are made to the Bill during the remainder of its Parliamentary passage.

We are grateful for the comprehensive reports from the Committees for Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs and Legislation and Constitutional Affairs. We are considering questions raised by the Committees and will respond in due course.