As displayed within Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 8 (3) of the Welsh Government’s Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2022, will the Minister outline the intention for including the phrase ‘otherwise’ and specify what decisions, if any, could be enacted as a result of the term's legal inclusion?
The Bill enables Welsh Ministers to provide support (financial or otherwise) for or in connection with agriculture and ancillary activities in Wales in a way which contributes towards the delivery of the Sustainable Land Management Objectives.
Whilst the main delivery mechanism under the power to provide support is expected to be the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, the power itself is not restricted to a single support scheme or schemes, as long as it is for or in connection with agriculture and ancillary activities in Wales.
The phrase ‘otherwise’ contained within section 8(3) is included to make clear that support is not restricted to being provided via a scheme. Section 8(3) enables varying approaches to be adopted when providing support to the sector, for example the provision of technical and practical advice. The intention is to provide greater flexibility in supporting the agricultural sector.
By expressly providing that support may be provided by way of a scheme ‘or otherwise’, section 8(3) provides Welsh Ministers with greater flexibility to provide support to the agricultural sector other than under a scheme.