Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales and Trefyndd
In accordance with the inter-institutional relations agreement, I wish to notify you a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was held on 23 January 2023.
The meeting was chaired by Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State for Food UK Government on behalf of Northern Ireland. The meeting was also attended by Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Islands, Scottish Government; Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity from Scottish Government UK Government; John Lamont MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, UK Government; James Davies MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, UK Government; and Katrina Godfrey, Permanent Secretary, DAERA in the absence of Northern Ireland ministers.
At the meeting we discussed the Retained EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill, including the status of the Bill, and in particular Defra’s plans for managing the extensive amount of legislation in the portfolio.
We then discussed the positive outcomes of the CBD COP15. We will be discussing next steps in March.
Following this, the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group provided an update on the supply issues impacting on the sector.
There were several items of AOB. I requested an update on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animal) Bill and noted I will be responding to Lord Beynon’s letter on the Animal (Low- Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill. I also asked for an update on the call for evidence on caged birds I agreed to last year.
Scottish Government ministers reiterated their concerns over the Offshore Wind Environment Improvement Package.
I then requested an update on the GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy, which I consented to publication of in October 2022.
Scottish Government finally raised end-of-life fishing equipment and asked to work together to reduce plastic waste from the industry.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 6 March.
A communique regarding this meeting will be published on the UK Government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/communique-from-the-inter-ministerial-group-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs.