Benefits of latest Glastir changes yet to be realised – says National Assembly Committee

17 October 2012

The benefits of the Welsh Government’s latest amendments to the agri-environment scheme Glastir have yet to be realised, according to a National Assembly for Wales Committee.

The Environment and Sustainability Committee was concerned to hear from stakeholders in May of this year that there were still serious issues about the communication and delivery of the Glastir scheme two years after the scheme had launched.

While the Committee welcomes changes made by the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Davies AM, as a result of his ‘stock-take’ of the scheme it has recommended that the Welsh Government provide an update on progress in early January.

The Committee requested further information from the Deputy Minister during a scrutiny session at the Royal Welsh Show in July - on whether uptake of the Glastir scheme was being hampered by issues such as a lack of on-farm support for farmers from scheme officials, clear communication about the different elements of the scheme and the level of detail needed in the scheme’s record-keeping requirements.

While the Committee welcomed reassurances provided by the Welsh Government on some elements of the scheme it believes that further progress is needed on developing a strategic communications plans, front-end support for farmers, record keeping and support for woodlands.

“These latest developments, to improve clarity and communication and support, would appear at first sight to allay some of the fears outlined to us by farmers and participating organisations,” said Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

“However, the Committee believes it is too soon to tell at this stage.

“Therefore we have determined to keep a watching brief on Glastir and have recommended that the Welsh Government provide us with an update on progress in early January.”

The Committee makes ten recommendations in its report including:

• The Welsh Government to develop and publish an initial strategic communications plan for Glastir by January 2013. Within its communication plan the Welsh Government should identify the actions it will undertake to communicate with those farmers who have already entered Glastir, and to ensure that prospective entrants to Glastir are communicated with appropriately. If this communications work is to be undertaken by different agencies the plan should clearly identify those with lead responsibility for the different actions;

• The Welsh Government to investigate whether the uptake of some options under Glastir Entry has been negatively affected by a lack of on-farm support and publish the results of such a review by January 2013;

• And, the Welsh Government to report the outcome of its review of record-keeping requirements for Glastir, and any changes it proposes as a result, to the Environment and Sustainability Committee by the end of November 2012.