The Prime Minister’s recent speech outlining the UK Government’s plans for leaving the EU rightly emphasised the importance of engaging with the devolved nations throughout the process.
Throughout the negotiations there will inevitably be discussions around the future of the powers which will be repatriated from the European Union once we have left, and decisions on the transfer of those responsibilities will have to be taken in collaboration with devolved administrations – not independently of them.
But by far the biggest concern of the farming sector relates to the future of subsidies, and in particular how that funding is distributed to Welsh farmers once we have left the European Union.
For several months now Welsh Conservatives have been calling for assurances that farm payments would remain outside the usual budget process, and ring fenced at a UK level.
We know that ‘Barnettisation’ would be a disaster for Welsh farmers, because without ring fencing, money for agriculture would be forced to compete with other public services like the Welsh NHS and schools.
That would be devastating for Welsh agriculture and it would provide a platform for the Ian Lucas wing of the Welsh Labour Party to lobby for massive cuts to farm subsidies.
I was extremely pleased to see that the First Minister now backs our position.
A UK wide framework would be necessary to ensure that ring fencing applies across the United Kingdom, but that will need to be done on a voluntary basis – and the signs are clearly promising that common ground can and will be reached on that particular issue.
Now that Article 50 has been triggered, we move onto the most important stage in the process of leaving the EU: negotiating a mutually beneficial deal between the UK and our friends and allies in the EU.
For Wales, 90% of all agricultural exports go to the EU, so securing the best possible access to that market as part of a future free trade agreement will be vital for the Welsh farming industry.
The Prime Minister has suggested that certain sectors may be treated as a priority during the negotiations, and I have written to her to stress the need for the voice of Welsh agriculture to be heard loud and clear during the process.
We need to ensure that Welsh farmers are not worse off after Brexit. Food security is too important an issue to be side-lined, and whilst Brexit may prove to be an opportunity to reform support for farmers, it is vital that financial support continues.
Leaving the European Union presents challenges and opportunities, if handled well, and I have no doubt that the Prime Minister and her officials will deliver the best possible outcome for Wales and Britain.
