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Welsh Government given power to set farmers' wages

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Welsh Government will be able to set minimum wages and benefits for agriculture workers. The Agricultural Bill will now become law.

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Judgement 'a humiliation' for UK Government - Labour

Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith has claimed that the UK Government wasted "huge amounts of court time and taxpayers money on a pointless court case" when the Attorney General referred Welsh farm wages legislation to the Supreme Court.

I congratulate the Welsh Labour Government for standing up for social justice and Labour values in Wales, by fighting to ensure that low paid agricultural workers get a fairer deal. This second judgement in favour of the Welsh Labour Government is a humiliation for the Tory led UK Government. So determined were the Tories to slash wages of low paid agricultural workers in Wales that they allowed it to cloud their judgement.

– Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith MP

Mr Smith also said that the ruling shows the need for Labour's proposal that the Assembly is put on the same "reserved powers" basis as Scotland. It would spell out what the Assembly could not do.

Meanwhile the Welsh Secretary, David Jones, gave his reaction, concentrating on how the judges have rejected a narrow interpretation of the Assembly's powers.

The Government is grateful to the Supreme Court for providing clarity on this issue. In its judgment, the court has favoured a broader interpretation of the provisions in the Government of Wales Act that govern the Assembly’s competence.

We now need to study the judgment in detail and consider its implications. The Government is committed to working with the Welsh Government for the benefit of Wales and will continue to make every effort to ensure that the legislative arrangements for Welsh devolution work effectively.

– Secretary of State for Wales David Jones MP
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Welsh Government given power to set farmers' wages

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