Posted on 07/02/2017 3:29:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
That's the recommendation of at team of experts put together by an AM
Shepherd’s pie can help save the economy of rural Wales from devastation after Brexit, according to a team of experts brought together by a Labour AM.
Baroness Eluned Morgan, who represents Mid & West Wales, hopes the ideas in her group’s report will stimulate debate about an often neglected part of the country.
Here are the Government's plans for what will happen to EU citizens in the UK after Brexit
Considering the potential economic consequences of Brexit, the report says: “Welsh Lamb has long been seen as a valuable product but does not easily compete with lamb from New Zealand, which is imported at much lower price.
“Furthermore, if Wales loses its current access to the EU market and has to depend on WTO rules, we may have to pay an effective tariff rate of 46% which could make Welsh lamb uncompetitive.
“We must add value locally to what is already an excellent brand by processing the original product. Over 79 million ready meals are eaten every week by adults in the UK. We must target this market and provide an initial guaranteed demand through using Welsh public procurement.
“Procurement partnerships should be encouraged with existing ready meal businesses or business start-ups, alongside an established distributor, to ensure a shepherd’s pie made of 100% Welsh ingredients is delivered to all Welsh public sector organisations who are contracted to provide food in Wales.
“This would provide a domestic market for quality Welsh lamb which may be under severe threat post-Brexit in terms of export opportunities.”
Baroness Morgan set up the group in response to concerns that Rural Wales was being neglected in the context of City Deals and increased investment in urban areas – and the sense that it needed a new strategy for itself.
Another idea mooted in the report is teaching English to Chinese nationals. It says: “China has a huge population of single, relatively wealthy young people whose parents require them to receive a broader education to learn English and experience a life outside of China.
“Providing English language courses for Chinese students for two to three months in Rural Wales alongside co-ordinated programmes of outdoor education, sports, language learning, debate and social skills would be well received in China.
“Redundant rural schools could be used to provide such activities and local families could be encouraged to host Chinese students in return for a fee.
“Two local authorities should be encouraged to undertake an initial pilot. The Welsh Government should appoint an experienced Chinese expert to drive this initiative.”
The group also proposes that each local authority should either build itself or support housing associations in building up to 12 eco-homes with older people specifically in mind, in which step-up and step-down beds from hospitals are accommodated and where a carer can be on hand to help.
The report says: “The eco-homes should also be a means of delivering local apprenticeships.
“The Welsh Government should ensure that Rural Wales receives its share of the 20,000 new homes promised, which would amount to around 5,000 homes.
“Eco/Passive homes, once built, are very economic to heat and run; this would alleviate fuel poverty and contribute to climate change emission targets.
“These homes should be built, as far as possible, using local materials – in particular wood – local supplies and a locally skilled workforce; preferably providing apprenticeship opportunities.
“Once these homes are built, they should release local homes for younger people. It should be ensured that covenants are placed on these homes to ensure that it is local people who are able to buy or rent these homes.”
Are there any other ideas?
Other suggestions include developing a horse breeding centre of excellence near the Ffos Las racecourse in Carmarthenshire and developing a network of charging posts for electric cars. There could also be a pilot project for driverless electric cars.
Summing up, the report says: “An integrated, co-ordinated approach is required across economic development, planning, transport and public service provision.
“We must focus on rural towns, which are often the economic hub of a much larger geographical area. Creative responses to the challenge of austerity are already being explored to prevent the closure of public and commercial services such as schools, libraries, banks and post offices in small towns and rural communities.”
Welsh rabbit farms - ok, that was funny.
A bit rare to find gems like that, eh? ;)
Now that’s my kind of recipe.
Another:
BBQ chicken
Toss frozen tendies in a bowl of water for about 9 minutes
Line cake pan with foil (if it’s your turn to do dishes)
Put mostly defrosted tendies in oven at 475 degrees
Microwave russet potatoes until they start to shrink
Cover tendies with Sweet Rays tomato flavored BBQ corn syrup
Spear all onto paper plates
Tap water in Tervis tumblers & enjoy!
Ok, now you are getting cheesy.
My father was from Missouri. Sheep-farming didn’t really catch on there until the 1980s. Neither of my parents knew garlic from a hole in the head when I was growing up.
Make Shepard’s Pie Great Again....
Not Guilty!!!!!
They seem to be grasping due to bad trade deals....
No Garlic!!! YIKES!!!
I use it in pretty much everything since I started cooking in high school. If I have to smell like my grandparents it’s worth it.!!!!!
Your post made me research the history of garlic. Stories are inconsistent but the most common thread seems to be although it appears to have started in central Asia, the ancient Egyptians worshiped it. Moved to Greece and Italy, then maybe via the spice route went east. Moved to eastern Europe cuz of the Russian influence they had. Looks like western Europe just used it a medicinal herb.
Half my family eastern Europe, other half western. The eastern were way better cooks. LOL!
You western?
I love garlic. Most of my ancestors are from Ireland, a few from England, a few Natives of Illinois.
Mine are Scottish/Irish blend....they got friendly...LOLOOO
We have some of that. My mom’s family comes from Northern Ireland. Some still live there.
A friend of mine returned to Scotland after many years away and couldn’t believe what she saw...said there were so many Burkas she felt like it wasn’t her country any more. Broke her heart too!
I’ve read articles discussing the proliferation of Islam in Scotland. A pretty common interpretation is that the disintegration of traditional Scots Christianity came first.
Mmmmm........nice menu.
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