FUW YOUNGER VOICE for Farming Committee Chairman Darren Williams is the Union’s representative on the new Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales.
A tenant farmer at Talwen Fawr, near Brecon, Mr Williams is also vice chairman of the FUW’s Brecon and Radnor county branch.
The panel’s core functions are to draft the Agricultural Wages Orders to set the minimum rates of agricultural pay in Wales as well as terms and conditions of agricultural employment, to promote careers in agriculture, to advise the Welsh Ministers on agricultural matters and to promote skills development and training opportunities in the sector.
The panel must meet at least three times a year but is able to meet as regularly as is necessary to ensure it achieves its wide ranging remit.
Its membership includes independent members and industry representatives of both employers and employees.
The membership includes one chairperson, one independent agricultural member, one independent education member, one FUW representative, one NFU representative and two UNITE representatives.
Welsh ministers appoint the independent chair and four independent members though a public appointment process while the industry representatives are selected by their respective organisations.
Members serve a term of four years and can serve no more than two terms.
Speaking about his appointment Darren Williams said “l am delighted to represent the PUW on this panel. It will no doubt be an enormous challenge given the current economic climate and challenges facing agriculture.
“However, by working together with the panel I hope we will be able to advise Welsh Ministers well, attract more people to the industry by promoting careers in the sector and highlight the benefits of skill development and training opportunities.”
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