The AM had requested that the Natural Resources Minister, Alun Davies AM, answer an urgent question in Plenary on the Welsh Government’s support for upland farmers following the recent severe weather conditions, the first public opportunity to scrutinise the Government since the extreme weather took its toll. However, minutes before Mr George was to ask the question, Mr Davies released a Written Government Statement announcing an additional package of support for farmers in affected areas.
As well as extending a period of derogation on the burial of fallen stock, he also committed 500 thousand pounds of funding for farming charities to ‘help them with their work in the short term’.
While mid Wales famers struggled in many feet of snow, any such move had previously been dismissed by the minister.
Commenting, Mr George said:
"I was pleased that the Presiding Officer accepted my request for an urgent question.
"Given that the Welsh Government had not put it on the agenda for government business on the first day back after the Easter recess, I felt it was vitally important that I and other AMs had the opportunity to raise the plight of affected farmers and scrutinise the Minister’s decisions made over the last two weeks.
"While today’s (16 April) announcement of the extension of the derogation and additional financial assistance is of course welcome – it is very little and very late; to call this a belated turnaround would be extremely generous.
"Farmers currently battling for their livelihoods may gratefully receive this assistance – but will rightly question why it is has taken this long for the minister to change his mind.
"Yet until the full impact of the recent weather is known, I still believe more support cannot be ruled out. Many farmers are struggling to keep their businesses alive and the full extent of infrastructure damage and livestock loss numbers is not yet known in some areas.
"I pressed him today to remain open to deploying further measures of support until the full impact is known, like assistance with the costs of collection and disposal of fallen stock, the re-instatement of Tir Mynydd until the end of the current Rural Development Plan and even possibly some emergency based payment for per head of sheep.
"While today’s additional support will be welcomed, it still pales into insignificance when compared to support offered in other parts of the UK and its only right that Welsh farmers receive equal treatment and I think that should be examined further.
"While I appreciate the Minister has launched a long-term review of the sector to ensure it remains viable and sustainable, I believe the Environment and Sustainability Committee should undertake a very short, focused review to see what lessons can be learnt and examine any other avenues of support that could be deployed to assist affected farmers in the short-term.
"I have already discussed this with the Chair of the Committee, Lord Ellis Thomas AM, and will be making a recommendation at the next Committee meeting on 17th April."