4.Under this section, the Welsh Ministers must establish a panel to be known as the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales (“the Panel”). To do so, Welsh Ministers must make an order which will have to be passed by the National Assembly for Wales.
5.The Panel’s functions as set out by the Welsh Ministers in an order will, at the least, include—
promoting careers in agriculture,
preparing agricultural wages orders in draft, consulting on such orders and submitting them to the Welsh Ministers for approval,
advising the Welsh Ministers on other issues which may affect the agricultural sector.
6.This range of functions will enable the Welsh Ministers to task the Panel with considering many issues around the agricultural sector such as the recruitment and retention of workers into the sector and the how the sector can be encouraged and supported.
7.In the order establishing the Panel, the Welsh Ministers may also specify such other functions as they consider necessary to support the sector.
8.The membership of the Panel must include a member to chair the Panel and at least three, but not more than ten, additional members.
9.The Welsh Ministers must seek to ensure that the membership of the Panel:
has the skills and expertise necessary to enable the Panel to perform its functions efficiently and effectively, and
adequately reflects the interests of all parts of the agricultural sector.
10.In any order made establishing the Panel, the Welsh Ministers may stipulate how the Panel is constituted, how it will carry out proceedings, how its members will be appointed and its general powers. The Welsh Ministers may also add, amend or remove functions of the Panel.
11.Before establishing the Panel, or making any changes to it once established, the Welsh Ministers must carry out appropriate consultation. This might include, for example, farming unions and other sector representatives, farmers and agricultural workers.