Call for evidence – Red Meat Industry

The Proposed Welsh Red Meat Industry Legislative Competence Order Committee has launched a public consultation to seek the views of interested parties on a new Welsh Assembly Government proposed Order.

The committee was set up to scrutinise the Government proposed Order which will provide the Assembly with the power to make its own laws, known as Measures, in the field of agriculture and rural development. In particular, it will enable the Assembly to introduce legislation in relation to the development, marketing and promotion of the red meat industry in Wales.

In scrutinising the proposed Order, the Committee will consider:

• the general principles of the proposed Order and whether legislative competence in the area identified in ‘Matter 1.1’ should be conferred on the Assembly; and

• the terms of the proposed Order, in particular whether they are too broadly or too narrowly defined.

Mick Bates AM, Chair of the Committee, said “This Committee has been tasked with scrutinising the Government’s proposals to obtain powers which will enable the National Assembly to control the development, marketing and promotion of the red meat industry in Wales. It is our role to ensure that the power being sought is appropriate and that the proposed legislation is fit for purpose. The Committee is keen to hear the views of individuals and organisations within the field of agriculture and rural development, and I would like to encourage anyone with an interest in this area to visit our website and submit evidence to the Committee.”

The Committee would welcome comments on the following questions:

1. What are your views on the general principle that legislative competence in the area identified in Matter 1.1 be conferred on the Assembly?

2.What are your views on the terms of the proposed Order? For example, is Matter 1.1 too narrowly or too broadly drawn?

3. Is it necessary to include interpretations of ‘the red meat industry’, ‘cattle’ and ‘pigs’ in the proposed Order? If so, are the interpretations provided appropriate or should there be any additions or deletions?  

Full details of the committee’s consultation can be found on the Assembly’s website at:
http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-legislation/bus-leg-legislative-competence-orders/bus-legislation-lco-2008-no8-ag_rural_dev.htm

Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Clerk of the Committee at the address below, to arrive no later than 19 November 2008. If possible, please supply an electronic version either by e mail to LegislationOffice@wales.gsi.gov.uk or on a disc.

The National Assembly normally makes responses to public consultation available for public scrutiny and they may also be seen and discussed at Committee meetings. If you do not want your response or name published it is important that you specify this at the end of your submission.

Membership of the Committee:

Mick Bates AM

Nerys Evans AM

Ann Jones AM

Val Lloyd AM

Brynle Williams AM

Proposed Legislative Competence Order relating to the red meat industry in Wales