Submission by Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion
Wales to the Richard Commission
Thursday 8th May 2003
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Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales
was formed as a result of the Farming for the Future
strategy document published by the National Assembly
for Wales. Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales' remit
is to draw up a strategic plan for the red meat sector
in Wales and to ensure that a range of activities are
undertaken to put the plan into practice. These activities
include:
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red meat promotion |
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communication and information activities
in support of the red meat industry |
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industry development activities |
| The new body assumes the specific
functions in Wales of the three key partners, including
the MLC’s activity on Welsh branded red meat promotion,
development, communications and information; the WDA’s
support for Welsh branded red meat marketing and development;
and WLBP’s marketing and promotion activities, together
with strategic policy for assurance activities. |
| A Positive Relationship |
| Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales values this opportunity to present to the Richard
Commission some thoughts on how the National Assembly
might build on current strengths and take an even more
direct role in supporting and building the market for
Welsh meat. Devolution has made a major difference to
the agri-food sector in Wales (Question 1). We would argue
that there are a series of positive aspects in which the
National Assembly has shaped the way that the agricultural
world operates (Question 2) . |
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The most important change for us has been
the development of more strategic government, with
a clear direction set for the Agriculture & Rural
Affairs Department and the development of a comprehensive
strategy for farming in Wales. The National Assembly facilitated
the creation of the Farming for the Future strategy, the
over-arching policy document for the agriculture and rural
development in Wales. Farming for the Future identifies
over 50 actions that the National Assembly Government
and others have begun to take to help the industry adapt,
including the establishment of Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales as a single meat promotion body for Wales. |
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Central to this provision of a clear strategy
has been the establishment of an Agriculture Minister
with a separate and distinct portfolio as part of the
Welsh Assembly Government. This has provided clear leadership
to the industry and has led to a more responsive government
with a genuine dialogue between parties and the ability
for the agriculture industry to raise concerns and have
them recognised. Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales would
argue that the responsiveness is dependent on retaining
a single portfolio to deal with agriculture and rural
development beyond May 2003. |
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We have enjoyed working with politicians
of all parties on the Agriculture Committee of the National
Assembly (Question 5). Since Assembly portfolios mirror
Cabinet responsibilities, the creation of a distinctive
Agriculture & Rural Development Committee has provided
a forum for political discussion and interaction with
stakeholders in Farming for the Future. The Committee
is crucial to providing more transparent government
and ensures political decision-making is either made collectively
by politicians in an open forum or, equally importantly,
is scrutinised when done by a Minister. |
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A noticeable area of advance has been in
the development of a more approachable government
with clearly identified channels of communication with
senior civil servants, as well as with the Minister and
other relevant politicians. This brings government closer
to the people and the interest groups of Wales - which
was after all a central intention of the devolution process.
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We would also argued that there has generally
been more imaginative government since devolution,
with policy formulation arising from a more consultative,
inclusive process. This has provided more opportunity
for outside involvement in government and policy making. |
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Indeed, we are confident in saying
that in its attitudes and actions the National Assembly
for Wales has looked favourably on the agriculture industry.
It is crucial that the economic and social value of the
agricultural industries are recognised in Wales. The 28,780
holdings in Wales form the backbone of the rural economy,
and the value of livestock and livestock products was
measured at £967m in 2001. Indeed, Wales is more dependent
on agricultural industries than England, accounting for
4.6% of the workforce in Wales compared to 1.9% in a UK
context. The Welsh red meat sector is reliant on export
to the rest of the UK and Europe and is thus a major player
in the provision of food. |
| Looking to the Future |
| Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales recognises that, to quote the famous phrase, devolution
is a process and not an event. To this end we recognise
that, in the absence of primary legislative powers, the
Assembly is continuing to gain additional powers and responsibilities
by means of Transfer of Functions Orders (Question 7).
These often follow new Acts with Welsh clauses, but have
also taken the form of the transfer of parts of older
legislation as policy remits are transferred from Westminster
to the Assembly. As you will know, the Assembly is currently
in negotiation with DEFRA regarding the transfer of powers
relating to Animal Health to the National Assembly. To
do this a Transfer Order will need to be worked out to
encompass the range of relevant powers, identifying respective
clauses of Acts of Parliament, including legislation such
as the Animal Health Act 2002 and less recent legislation.
We recognise that the current position on this transfer
is, as indicated to the Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on the 2nd of April, "that work was
in hand on the resources required to discharge the responsibilities
that would transfer, not simply over the transfer of power
in itself. The Welsh Assembly Government had not been
in a position to begin such discussions until Autumn 2002
following the publication of the Andersen and Follet reports
and the Government’s response." |
| Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales welcomes the intention to transfer additional functions
to the National Assembly and recognises that this process
can be lengthy and subject to detailed negotiation. However,
we would press the case for additional functions to be
transferred to the Minister with responsibility for Agriculture
in the Welsh Assembly Government, especially in relation
to Research & Development in agriculture. Responsibility
for R&D for England & Wales is currently held
by DEFRA, but in Scotland the issue has been properly
devolved and the Scottish Executive has its own R&D
budget. We know that Welsh agriculture is significantly
different to England, both in terms of its strategic priorities
and its needs, and would argue that these differences
warrant the devolving of the powers to the National Assembly. |
| Primary Legislative Powers |
| Some aspects of the strategy
that Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales is required to
implement can probably only be achieved if the Assembly’s
powers are extended to include primary legislative powers
(Question 4). The present position assumes that the interests
of the agri-food industry in England and in Wales are
always identical. This is not the case. The sheepmeat
market in Wales, in particular, is far more significant
than it is in England and so there is no imperative under
present arrangements for attention or time to be given
by Westminster to specific Welsh requirements. |
| One important example of this
arrangement that is unsatisfactory is that the parafiscal
levy from producers for development and promotion of red
meat (known as the MLC levy) is currently collected jointly
for Wales, England and Scotland and is the responsibility
of a single Accounting Officer. This again does not allow
for the proper consideration of specifically Welsh issues.
This position is being changed in Scotland, but it is
only possible to do this with the use of primary legislation.
Thus it is only with the extension of the Assembly’s
powers to include primary legislation that the situation
can also be changed in Wales. To make this change would
be entirely in keeping with the Assembly’s principles
of transparency and direct accountability, as a separate
Accounting Officer for Wales would be responsible to the
relevant Welsh Assembly Minister. |
| [In giving oral evidence to the
Richard Commission on 8th May 2003, the Chair and the
Chief Executive of Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales
will bring with them further material on the experience
in using primary legislative powers in this instance in
Scotland. ] |
| In arguing for the necessity
of primary legislation powers to assist Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat
Promotion Wales in delivering our remit to the farmers
of Wales, we would also argue for the appropriate infrastructure
and resources to be put in place to prepare for and then
manage these additional powers. If the powers are transferred
from Westminster then the resources currently used in
Westminster and Whitehall for their use and implementation
should also, in equity, be transferred. |
| Wales, Westminster and Europe |
| Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales will have specific concerns from time to time on
how UK and EU policy decisions affect the Welsh livestock
sector and consequently Wales' ability to compete on the
European stage. As we have illustrated, the needs of Wales'
livestock industry is different and need proper attention
and a clear voice. |
| Although none of the questions
of the Commission specifically deal with Europe, the agriculture
sector cannot be dealt with without reference to the European
Union. On a European level we need examine the
Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy and
the ways in which Wales might need a clear voice. Unlike
other parts of the UK - and most regions of European member
states - Wales has a large reliance on the sheep sector,
particularly in the hills. The effect of CAP reform on
sheep numbers and therefore Wales' ability to have the
critical mass of production of lamb might receive low
priority from the UK delegation, let alone the other member
states. A strong Welsh voice is imperative. |
| Many strategic decisions are
also made at the UK level. Devolution has made
it possible to influence these positively e.g. the Tir
Mynydd Scheme has been better tailored for the upland
areas of Wales than has either the Scottish or the English
scheme. Wales was also able to make its own decision on
how to allocate 1 ECU National Envelope Supplement on
Sheep Annual Premium payments. It is therefore vital that
Wales develops that ability to respond and negotiate appropriately
in all aspects of UK policy making. |
| CONCLUSION |
| In conclusion, Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat
Promotion Wales reiterates that the impact of devolution
on our organisation and the people we serve has been extremely
positive (Question 1). We have referred to some of the
advantages of the present devolution settlement (Question
2). We do not find that there are problems as such with
the settlement (Question 2), so long as it is allowed
to develop in a logical way that allows a new body such
as Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales, set up by the
Welsh Assembly, to use all possible powers available to
it for the effective implementation of its remit. Part
of this logical process of devolution in the area of the
agri-food industry and the promotion of Welsh red meat,
must include the transfer of some additional powers to
the Assembly to be effective, as outlined in this evidence.
In addition, the inclusion of primary legislative powers
would be helpful. This would mean Welsh farmers would
be able to see the use of their own levy money through
the work of a Welsh Accounting Officer, as well as ensuring
future specific requirements for the Welsh industry are
not dependent on the attention and time of Westminster
and Whitehall, whose agricultural priorities are often
different to ours and even, on occasion, competitive with
those of Wales. |
| Rees Roberts OBE |
| Chair, Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion
Wales |
| Gwyn Howells |
| Chief Executive, Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat
Promotion Wales |
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| Submitted 30th April
2003 |
| Presented 8th May
2003 |
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