The Welsh Affairs Select Committee have launched an enquiry looking at farming in Wales to study what support is needed from the UK Government, and what assistance is needed currently. Among the issues the committee will be exploring is the effect of changes on inheritance tax on farmers in Wales.
Attention will also be given to the UK’s departure from the European Union, and the effect this has had on agricultural exports from Wales, considering that 80% of these exports went to the EU in 2018. Another matter the committee will give its attention is how the UK Government’s removal of specific ringfencing for agricultural expenditure could affect the way the industry is funded in Wales. The Welsh Government wouldn’t have to stick to any spending in funding agriculture in Wales, and this could lead to a drop in the agricultural budget.
Ruth Jones, Chair of the Committee, said:
“Farming is a cornerstone of Wales’s economy and culture. But the sector is currently under strain from funding pressures, increasing energy costs, and new trading relationships to navigate. With over 50,000 people working in Wales’s agricultural sector, we need to make sure farmers have the right support and funding.
“The inquiry will be an opportunity to understand the challenges ahead and what the UK Government can do to support Welsh farmers. We want to understand how we can ensure the longevity of the industry and put farming on a firmer footing well into the future.”
To learn more about the committee, find the main questions they will be pursuing, and to see how you can submit evidence, follow this link.
