Delivery will be key on Working Smarter Report
NFU Cymru has welcomed today’s publication by the Welsh Government of the Working Smarter report which looks at simplifying regulation within agriculture but the Union has warned that ensuring the timetable of delivery for the recommendations within the report is adhered to will be key to determining what legacy the report will have on the farming industry in Wales.
The report produced by Gareth Williams, makes 74 recommendations with Mr Williams grouping them into three categories. He recommends delivery of the first 20 ’quick wins’ by the 2012 summer recess; 35 short term solutions by the 2103 summer recess and 19 medium term solutions delivered by the next Assembly elections.
NFU Cymru President Ed Bailey, who has met with Gareth Williams on a number of occasions during the autumn said, "I was very impressed with the way that Gareth went about collecting information and collating this report, the final report is testament to his diligence. We must now ensure that this report is not left to gather dust on a Welsh Government shelf.
"The recommendations place pressure on both Government and industry in terms of the way we both work but the benefits in terms of reduced cost and improved efficiency for Government and simplified rules and more targeted inspections for industry are clear for all to see."
NFU Cymru is particularly pleased to see recognition of the excellent work done by the Farm Liaison Service through a recommendation to increase resource to the service. Also to be welcomed are recommendations to simplify livestock movement controls, investigating the implementation of separation / isolation facilities on farm alongside potential amendments to the six day standstill.
Mr Bailey said, "I welcome the endorsement the Deputy Minister has given to this report but I will have to remind him that this is not the first time we have placed our hopes on positive words from Government to reduce red tape and only last week we saw a further example of over-regulation through our Government’s failure to accept any tolerance on Sheep EID, it is therefore crucial that we see some quick wins and actions that match the rhetoric.
"This report must be seen as the first step towards changing the culture in Wales that will see the delivery of simplified and better regulation across the board, a system that improves communication between the regulator and the industry and that will reward farmers for upholding the high standards expected of them."
