Welsh Conservative Shadow Farming Minister Andrew RT Davies has called on Senedd ministers to hand over responsibility for Wales’ meat promotion body to producers.
Hybu Cig Cymru is owned by Welsh Government, but funded by levies paid by meat producers and processors.
Under Welsh Government ownership, it has been marred by controversy.
Farming unions say it is underperforming and there have been reports of a “toxic culture” within the organisation.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies warned producers’ money was being spent on “high hourly rates to solicitors and HR advisors rather than putting it into the marketing of the quality produce that comes from Welsh farms.”
He asked Plaid Cymru Rural Affairs Minister Llyr Gruffydd if Welsh Government would hand responsibility for running HCC to levy payers.
Gruffydd refused, stating, “I don’t believe in changing the current structure” and “Welsh Government brings a lot to the table.”
Plaid had supported putting producers in charge of HCC when the party was in opposition.
Mr Davies said:
“Hybu Cig Cymru is supposed to champion Welsh meat – but ongoing governance issues mean producers’ money is being spent on solicitors and HR consultants, not promoting Welsh beef, lamb and pork.
“When in opposition, Plaid agreed HCC should be run by the producers who pay its bills, not Senedd ministers.
“But they have been taken in by officials – and the result is another broken Plaid promise.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Wednesday 8th July
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/16084#C766931
Andrew R.T. Davies
14:40:44
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you would have been included in a letter that was sent to spokespeople from the NSA about issues at Hybu Cig Cymru—an issue you would be very familiar with from your time as opposition spokesperson. The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee did a detailed report on this issue and on the governance at HCC. Its first recommendation was that it should be returned to the producers and actually be run by the producers and the levy payers. And I declare an interest as a levy payer.
Are you minded, now that you’re in a position to effect that change, to do that and return HCC to the levy payers, so that governance drives the organisation to the success we all want to see it have, which is promoting quality Welsh beef, lamb and pork on the world stage, rather than paying solicitors and human resources advisers to deal with ludicrous accusations levelled against many individuals within that organisation?
Llyr Gruffydd
14:41:44
Thanks for the question. I have met with the chief exec and the chair of Hybu Cig Cymru recently, and they know what my view is and what my aspiration is. I want a fully functioning, firing-on-all-cylinders Hybu Cig Cymru. I feel that under the new chief exec and the Vision 2030 strategy that’s been published recently, that they are now on a positive trajectory. I will be a critical friend of theirs, but I will support the work that they do, because I honestly think that they are the organisation to move us forward in this space. Levy payers’ voices are critical, of course they are, but we need to strike the right balance in terms of making sure that we have an organisation that is functioning, delivering. If we rip it up and start again, I fear we’ll do nothing but look at internal structures for time to come. I think we’re beyond the point now where we’re looking back. For me, it’s about looking forward and building Hybu Cig Cymru into what it could and should be.
Andrew R.T. Davies
14:42:42
With respect, Minister, that letter only came four weeks ago from an organisation that would be very familiar with the workings of HCC, and they said the culture has not changed. And you didn’t answer the question that I put to you, which you supported in opposition, and that your spokesperson supported in that report that was put together. And it does not mean ripping up all the governance in the organisation. It merely means returning the organisation to the producers and levy payers who pay the bills. And as I said, many of those levy payers have been paying high hourly rates to solicitors and HR advisers to deal with issues rather than putting it into the marketing of the quality produce that comes from Welsh farms. So, here’s your opportunity, Minister: yes or no, will you allow the levy payers to take ownership of HCC and deliver an organisation that can be world beating on the world stage?
Llyr Gruffydd
14:43:39
Well, let’s not forget that the Welsh Government brings a lot to the table here as well. So, the Welsh Government has to be represented in the organisation. And I believe that they are on the right trajectory now. So, I don’t believe in changing the current structure. I will, of course, keep a watching brief on things as they develop. And I’ve spoken with NSA Cymru and others on a myriad of issues around this. But I’ve also spoken to the people running HCC, leading HCC, and they are giving me confidence that they are on the right track and I will support them.
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