NFU welcomes new cabinet ministers

NFU Cymru has welcomed developments at Cardiff Bay which has seen the appointment of the new Welsh Assembly Government Cabinet.

Responding to the news, NFU Cymru President Dai Davies said, "I extend my congratulations to all those who will be serving in Wales' new government, and I am particularly pleased to see that the Sustainability portfolio has effectively been split in two with Elin Jones taking responsibility for Rural Affairs and Jane Davidson looking after Sustainability and Housing. NFU Cymru had long felt that having such a large portfolio could prove too big a challenge for one Minister to deal with effectively. We are therefore delighted to have two Cabinet Ministers responsible for Rural Affairs and Sustainability and Housing.

When the Sustainability and Rural Development portfolio was initially announced it became clear that the agri-food strategy was to be hived off into the Economy and Transport portfolio. NFU Cymru felt it was a mistake to divide up responsibility for the agri-food supply chain and representations were made to the First Minister.

Dai Davies said, "I hope that there will now be an early review of where the agri-food strategy responsibility should lie and I hope that the divorce we have witnessed will be annulled and that it will now be repatriated to the Rural Affairs portfolio.

Mr Davies concluded "We hope that this announcement heralds a much needed period of stability in Welsh politics after the upheavals of the last three months, we look forward to working closely with the new Welsh Assembly Government."