Environment and Sustainability Committee begins work by listening

13 July 2011

Farming and rural organisations are being invited to come and tell the National Assembly for Wales’s Environment and Sustainability Committee what they want from the new Assembly.

It’s part of the Committee’s drive to listen to all groups involved with environmental, farming and sustainability issues before they draw up a work programme for the new Assembly.

The organisations will take part in the round-table discussion, at the Royal Welsh Show on 19 July.

This will follow an official Committee meeting, also on the Royal Welsh Showground, where they will take evidence from the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes, Alun Davies AM, on his priorities for the new Assembly.

“The Fourth Assembly is all about being more reflective of the needs of the people of Wales, particularly as subject committees now have a dual role of scrutinising policy as well as making laws for Wales, ” said Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

“Particularly as subject committees now have a dual role of scrutinising policy as well as legislation.

“If we are to create a sustainable Wales, where all our environments are safe and clean to live in, then myself and my colleagues have to listen to as many of you as possible.

“But it’s equally as important that we, as Committee Members, scrutinise the Welsh Government’s programme and policies which is why we will also hold an official Committee session with the Minister.”

The Committee will meet at the Young Farmers’ Pavilion, on Avenue K, near the Cattle Ring, where they will take evidence from the Minister.

Immediately following that meeting, Committee Members will take part in the round-table discussion at the same venue.