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Welsh assembly beefs over ban

The assembly will not have any powers to return beef joints to the windows of butchers' shops and supermarket shelves until July, but the process of debating the contentious issue began with a half-hour speech by Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams, assembly member for Brecon.

Ms Williams later withdrew her motion after an open debate allowed the issue to be referred to the Agriculture Committee for further detailed discussion.

The committee could meet to consider the issue before the end of this week. It will work closely with the Health Committee.

Ms Williams, chair of the Health Committee, said the assembly should show faith in Welsh beef and give consumers the choice to buy beef-on-the-bone once again.

"This is a case of the nanny state at its worst," she told members.

"We should be giving Welsh consumers the choice to eat beef-on-the-bone if they wish to."

First Secretary Alun Michael had earlier cautioned against rushing into lifting the ban, urging detailed discussions.

Former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies warned assembly members not to use the issue as a "battering ram" against Westminster.

"Can we seriously consider making a unilateral decision in Wales to lift this ban and in the light of conflicting medical evidence?" asked Mr Davies.

"I really do not see the logic in saying that the first decision that this assembly should take is to use our powers as a battering ram against UK measures. I hope the idea that we do this unilaterally is put on the back burner."

Agriculture Secretary Christine Gwyther said the ban on beef-on-the-bone sales was in place to "protect the health of people in Wales".

Ms Gwyther said the first prudent opportunity to properly debate the issue should be in August to coincide with an updated report from the Chief Medical Officer.

"Welsh farming would certainly benefit from the lifting of the ban. It does restrict the scope of Welsh beef farmers to market their products and lifting the ban would certainly give a psychological boost to an industry that has gone through a difficult period," she said.

The issue appears to have united most assembly members, with Plaid Cymru and Conservatives also joining the Lib Dems in pushing for a swift decision on the issue.

Members of the Agriculture and Social Services committees will have the remit to make recommendations to members as soon as is reasonably practical.

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