In light of a letter sent by the UK Government's Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee on 12 November 2018, what discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had to date regarding reform of the red meat levy?
Legislation is a standing item on the Ministerial Quadrilateral agenda and Red Meat Levy has been a key issue that I have raised at all previous meetings. I also held a bilateral with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 4 September to discuss the Agriculture Bill, which included a substantive discussion on Red Meat Levy repatriation. I followed our discussion with a formal letter which was sent on the 12 November.
I will continue to push for a solution to be in place as soon as possible and at the most recent Quadrilateral meeting, of the 19 November, I urged UK Government to ensure the scheme detail is developed in parallel to the legislation progressing through Parliament.
I am pleased the Red Meat Levy clause has been accepted by the Commons Committee and forms part of the Agriculture Bill at Part 8, Clause 29. The Agriculture Bill, including the Red Meat Levy clause now awaits scrutiny by the House of Lords.
My officials and I will continue to liaise with UK Government officials and the appropriate Levy Bodies around the development of the scheme detail and the progression of the legislation.