Shadow Rural Affairs Minister comments on future RDP statement

Speaking after the statement on the Future domestic Rural Development Programme, Janet Finch-Saunders MS – the Shadow Rural Affairs Minister said:

“I made clear that, to ensure that future RDP delivers for rural Wales, lessons must be learnt from past mismanagement and the concerns of the agricultural sector taken on board. We know that, throughout RDP 2014 – 2020, roughly £53 million was awarded without ensuring value for money. This must be addressed through an independent review of the RDP, to include an analysis of the effectiveness and value for money of RDP projects and measures.

“I have also called for the Rural Development Advisory Board to be placed on a statutory footing, with its membership broadened to include sector stakeholders.

“The Welsh Government must similarly honour the £40m per annum commitment for the domestic RDP, and make a full spend under the current EU RDP.”