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
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| 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.
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| 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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