Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
In accordance with the inter-institutional relations agreement, I can report to Members I chaired the latest meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 November 2025.
The meeting was attended by Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity of the Scottish Government; Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy also for the Scottish Government; Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs attended for the Northern Ireland Executive; Emma Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs; and Baroness Sue Hayman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
We held a water quality deep dive which was focused on nutrient management practices and behavioural change.
We discussed the EU-UK Common Understanding agreement, with emphasis that devolved governments are consistently and meaningfully engaged throughout the negotiations. Members also noted the importance of maintaining current levels of border and biosecurity arrangements whilst the SPS Agreement is negotiated and implemented.
The meeting discussed the Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund and UK Government committed to providing a written explanation about how the methodology of how funding has been shared.
We discussed funding in the EFRA sector and the Autumn Statement. Devolved ministers made the case that the Autumn Statement should support small and medium farms.
The final substantive item was on the resilience of the CO2 supply chain and devolved ministers requested governments work together and collaborate to address the concerns of industry.
A communique regarding this meeting will be published on the UK Government website (external link).