Rural Development Sub-Committee
Inquiry into the Wine, Beer and Cider Industries
The Rural Development Sub-Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the wine, beer and cider industries in Wales.
The aim of the Committee’s inquiry is to assess the current situation of the wine, beer and cider industries in Wales, including their economic contribution and their potential for development and expansion in future. Following the inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the Welsh Government and any other appropriate bodies.
The Committee is keen to hear the views of as many people with an interest in the subject as possible and would like to invite you to submit a written response to the questions in the attached annex. Please feel free to answer all the questions, or only those that are relevant to your experience.
The Committee will use the written evidence, along with oral evidence taken at a number of meetings to be held in early 2010, to scrutinise and make recommendations to the Welsh Government on the issue. The meetings will be held in public and will also be available on Senedd TV which can be accessed from our website. A full verbatim transcript of each hearing will also be produced.
As we are keen to hear the views of as many people and organisations as possible, please pass this letter on to anyone you think would like to respond to it. An electronic copy of the consultation letter can also be found on our website at:
We welcome contributions in Welsh and English. Please submit your evidence in electronic form if possible.
I would be grateful if you could submit any written evidence by Friday, 12th February 2010 to Aled Elwyn Jones, Clerk to the Committee, at:
ruraldev.comm@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Hard copies should be sent to the above address.
Alun Davies AM
Chair, Rural Development Sub-Committee
Consultation questions for the inquiry into wine, beer and cider industries:
What contribution do the wine, beer and cider make to the agriculture, food and tourism sectors to the Welsh economy and what opportunities exist for developing this further?
What barriers to development are faced by the wine, beer and cider industries and how could these be overcome?
How much use is made of locally produced basic ingredients by the wine, beer and cider industries and what opportunities are provided within these industries in Wales for crop diversification?
Does the planning system facilitate or hamper development, and what changes would be desirable?
How effective is current promotion of Welsh wine, beer and cider as quality products in Wales and beyond?
Is there sufficient support currently available for the set-up and expansion of businesses in this sector - including research and development support - and is the support provided effective?
What further action could the Welsh Government take to support the development of the wine, beer and cider industries in Wales?
Please note:
It is normal practice for the National Assembly to publish evidence provided to a committee. Consequently your response may appear in a report or in supplementary evidence to a report. The National Assembly will not publish information which it considers to be personal data.
In the event of a request for information submitted under UK legislation, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide. This may include information which has previously been removed by the National Assembly for publication purposes.
If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, it is up to you to stipulate which parts should not be published, and to provide a reasoned argument to support this. The National Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information.
