I was just moidering about what I might say in the big debate on Tir Mynydd, which is due before AMs head off to plead for votes, when my own business' Tir Mynydd payment arrived in the post. Its £3684.44 before anyone named anonymous asks. It seems that I will not have to open the debate on behalf of the EPC Committee - so I'll be freer to say what I think.
Its been one of the most difficult issues for me to handle as a Committee chair. The most difficult was when I was charged with coming up with a Committee opinion on 'hunting with dogs' a few years ago, when both Peter Pogers and Ron Davies were both Committee members. Peter and Ron were entirely reasonable and I came within a whisker of pulling off the impossible. But there was some playing of 'silly b*****s' at the death and I had to scrap the whole venture. Who knows what would have happened if we had succeeded - and it was the pro- hunting side which b*****ed it. Really shot themselves in the foot.
But back to Tir Mynydd. I've admired the Minister's straight and upfrontness about his intention to cut the budget. I have also admired Elin Jones doggedness in taking on the Minister and his back-up team of officials. And a special mention for Mick Bates (now this isn't easy for me you understand) and Brynle Williams for not confusing the position by backing Elin in a quiet, determined way. The Assembly performs well when there is genuinely expressed disagreement. I daresay there will be some rubbish in the Plenary debate though. Hope not.
I will back the reprioritisation of the Minister's budget and support the increase in the Tir Mynydd budget line, despite the negative impact on current agri-environment schemes. However, I will want to link my support to a future review of the nature of the scheme. I am committed to channelling farm support through the agri-environment route. I will stand by my promises to do all I can to return the budget line for Tir Mynydd to the £36 million it used to be - but the only way this can be done is if Tir Mynydd itself becomes, at least in part, an agri-environment scheme itself, rather than a wholly compensatory scheme. There is an election in 49 days - and I'm only going to say what I would be prepared to deliver.
3 comments:
Will you declare an interest when you speak to the debate Glyn? Do you think all AMs - if indeed there are any - whose families benefit from agri subsidies should do likewise?
No I probably won't declare an interest - but, for my own satisfaction, I will try to find some way of making it known that I am a beneficiary of the scheme when I speak.
The reason I won't is that every farming business in upland Wales receives this payment - so it is rather like the Single Farm Payment. Since everyone benefits, there is deemed to be no interest to declare! Schemes like Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal and forestry grants etc. which are paid only to some farm businesses, should be declared.
I used to think that it was better to declare every interest in everything before speaking on it - but we reached a daft position in the Assembly when there were so many declarations of interest (especially by members who were former teachers or had family that were teachers) that it became ridiculous. We all know that anyone who has an involvement with a farming business in rural Wales has a pecunary interest in Tir Mynydd.
The declaration rules of the Assembly are quite strict and I prefer to abide by them precisely -rather than have to decide when I should or shouldn't. Over the last few years, I have needed to declare interests in a forestry grant scheme and a wind farm scheme - though both did not go ahead.
But you make a fair point. I have had at least one colleague AM ask me about this before - which is why I try to make the position clear by means less formal than an official declaration. Like posting it on my blog for instance.
so its going to be 'rubbish in the plenary' is it. so nothing new there then
Post a Comment