3. What support is the Welsh Government offering to agricultural shows in South Wales East? OQ59657

Thank you. Welsh Government works closely with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations to support the development of the agricultural show sector across the whole of Wales.

Thank you, Minister. Our summer and agricultural shows truly embody the best of what Wales has to offer, and I thoroughly enjoy supporting them across my region of South Wales East, and beyond, and enjoy the world-class produce that my region boasts. We need to promote that more on a world stage. Sadly, the chairman of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations, Emlyn Jones, recently spoke about the challenges faced by agricultural shows this year. He said that there are a lot of things to fight against, such as sponsorship withdrawal. He also said that costs have increased for those keeping livestock, which has caused a 20 per cent to 30 per cent decrease in sheep, cattle and horse entries. Aled Rhys Jones, chief exec of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, also explained that many aspects of the infrastructure involved in enacting shows are costing a huge amount more than in 2019. I saw this in my own region, with the 150-year-old Monmouthshire Show, of course, being cancelled due to financial restraints last year. To me, this just sums up how fragile and vulnerable our shows actually are, and how much they need our support, encouragement, promotion and financial backing where possible in the coming summers. So, Minister, what support and moneys is the Welsh Government offering to our agricultural shows, to ensure that they can continue to show off the best Wales has to offer, for years to come?

Thank you. I don't disagree with anything you say about our agricultural shows—they are absolutely part of the fabric Wales, and I too enjoy attending many of them across Wales. The significant amount of funding, obviously, goes to the Royal Welsh Show, which is obviously a massive showcase for the sector here in Wales, and we support other shows as well. I know there are a few of the agricultural shows in your own region that benefited from money when we had the innovation fund during COVID, where, unfortunately, shows couldn't go ahead. I think you make a really important point about public support; it's really important that we all ask ourselves what we can do as members of the public to support the shows. I saw what Emlyn Jones said, and I certainly have had several discussions with Aled Jones, as he approaches his first Royal Welsh Show as chief executive. I know, for instance, they're not going forward with the horticultural marquee, which I think is a real shame—they've got some other ideas, which are very exciting and innovative, and we certainly support them. What I would say is that I don't have much money, there's no point pretending I do, but if there's any show—. There was one show in your constituency—I think it was Machen—that had just over £200, which really helped them. That's a very small amount of money on the scale of things. So, if there is a show that feels we can help in some small way—and it would be a small amount of money—please get them to write to me, and I'll certainly look at it.