CUTS TO DEFRA'S BUDGET AND WALES

That this House is concerned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) plans to make cuts of £200 million to its budget; notes that these cuts will affect the National Assembly for Wales block grant; further notes that these cuts will have a serious impact on key services like flood and coastal defences, waterways and veterinary inspection; is concerned that since 2002-03 DEFRA has spent over £170 million on management consultants; and calls on the Government to meet the costs of the financial problems caused by the Rural Payments Agency in England from contingency reserves, rather than cutting frontline services.