Welsh Conservatives yesterday championed the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales and called on the Labour Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the Basic Payment Scheme budget for 2024.
In their Debate on ‘Agriculture’, they put forward the following motion:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the exceptional role that the agricultural sector plays in Wales, with agriculture contributing to over 220,000 jobs.
2. Notes that for every £1 invested in the agricultural sector, £9 is generated for the wider economy.
3. Celebrates the role that family farms play in supporting the Welsh language and social fabric of rural Wales.
4. Regrets that the Welsh Government have introduced cuts to the 2023-2024 rural affairs budget totalling £37.5 million.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that no cuts will be made to the basic payment scheme budget for 2024.
Sadly for farmers across Wales, Labour members voted against protecting the agriculture budget.
Closing the debate, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood had stressed that a failure by the Welsh Government to respond positively to the Motion would also further exacerbate the particular issue of rural poverty.
He said:
“We must recognise the evidence that rural poverty could be masked by the perceived affluence of rural areas, and by a culture of self-reliance in rural communities.
“Key contributory factors include the fragility of some rural economies; poor access to employment opportunities and public services; low pay; a lack of affordable housing; and social isolation.
“The low skills base of some rural economies is known to act as a barrier to economic growth and limited employment opportunities, which can result in the out-migration of skilled workers.
“A lack of training opportunities can also contribute to keeping incomes low. The prevalence of low-paid and fragile employment contributes to the risk of in-work poverty.
“A lack of access to services makes it difficult for some individuals to secure employment. Public transport in many rural areas is infrequent, inadequate and more expensive than elsewhere. This means that it's difficult for those without private transport to travel for work. A lack of affordable and available childcare in rural areas and limited access to the internet are also barriers to employment opportunities.
“There is a rural premium on some key goods and services because of a lack of competitive markets for food, fuel, energy and transport, contributing to rural poverty. Rural households are known to be susceptible to fuel poverty. Fixed housing costs can absorb a large proportion of low household incomes, and many rural areas have a lack of affordable housing. In 2020, 19 per cent of domestic properties in Wales were not connected to the gas grid. These are the key factors behind rural poverty in Wales that need to be tackled after almost 25 years of continuous Labour or Labour-led Welsh Governments, and let that be a warning to the voters in England.
“I'll conclude by reminding Members that central to our motion is the key call for the Basic Payment Scheme to be protected next year in full, without which, the protestations, commitments and opinions expressed by everyone in this Chamber today will generate the opposite of the intent that everybody seems to aspire towards, which is a successful, thriving, modern and sustainable farming industry and rural economy and community across Wales. If you believe in that, you should not be supporting that lot's delete-it-all motion, you should be following the intent of the motion, which is unifying behind it and voting for it.”
Speaking after the vote, he said:
“Farming has long been the backbone of the Welsh economy and it is gravely disappointing that Labour have voted against protecting the agriculture budget this evening.”