Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Elfyn Llwyd Excerpts
Wednesday 14th May 2014

(9 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call Mr Elfyn Llwyd.

Elfyn Llwyd Portrait Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)
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No. 5, Mr. Speaker, and I do not have an iPhone. [Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Because of chuntering from the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) from a sedentary position, the intervention was of no value—[Interruption.] Order. [Interruption.] Order. Be quiet. Silly man. I call Mr Llwyd.

Elfyn Llwyd Portrait Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)
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5. When he last met representatives of farming unions in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Crabb Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Stephen Crabb)
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Wales Office Ministers regularly meet the Welsh farming unions, which are an important voice for that vital industry in Wales.

Elfyn Llwyd Portrait Mr Llwyd
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The Minister will know that at the last Budget the annual investment allowance was increased to £500,000 until 2015, but that is restricted to plant and machinery. Will he add his voice to the farming unions’ voice and many others that that should be extended to buildings and infrastructure in the coming years? Will he therefore plead that case on behalf of Welsh farmers?

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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Those are matters for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will raise his question with Ministers at the Treasury and discuss it further. On the whole, business throughout Wales welcomed the measures in the Budget to increase the investment allowance.

Elfyn Llwyd Portrait Mr Llwyd
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On a more specific matter, the Minister knows about the case that I am about to raise with him, because he has a copy of the letter I wrote to his right hon. Friend in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Welsh Black species of cattle is not included on the native breeds endangered list in England; it is included in Wales. As a result, people are unable to export pedigree Welsh cattle over the border to England for those who wish to enter the English countryside stewardship scheme. That is a restraint of trade against Wales, it is unfair and it could be actionable. Will he please get DEFRA moving and get it to register appropriately?

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising the case with me and for sending me a copy of that correspondence. He raises an entirely fair and sensible point. The Welsh Black is a fine example of Welsh quality produce. There should not be any bureaucratic or policy reasons why it should not be able to be traded in England on an equal basis. I will look into the matter urgently with my colleagues from DEFRA.