Shadow Minister for Rural Affair, Mick Bates AM, has called on the Minister Elin Jones in the Chamber to bid for a fair share for Wales of the £42.8million underspend from the UK's Common Agricultural Policy budget, to support rural development programmes across the country.
"Meanwhile biodiversity in Wales continues to decline despite Welsh Assembly targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 and there will be no entry into Glastir until 2012.
"I have urged the Minister to bid for a fair share for Wales of the £42.8million of underspend to enhance rural development programmes across the country, so that environmental land management and the protection of our biodiversity is not neglected over the next three years before Glastir comes into force."
"Any opportunity to put more money into rural development and agri-environment schemes must be grabbed with both hands, and grabbed now. Farmers provide a valuable lifeline for wildlife and they need to be supported so they can continue to manage the countryside accordingly.
"The Assembly Government made an international commitment to halt wildlife declines by 2010 which it is likely to miss - so supporting farmers in caring for the countryside is critical."
