Welsh Office: Agriculture Department: Animal and Plant Health, Fisheries and Countryside...

This series contains records relating to post-Chernobyl restrictions on the sale and movement of sheep in North Wales, including monitoring of affected farms and derestriction prospects, and to the 1996 Sea Empress oil spill and subsequent clean-up operation. Contents include briefings, correspondence, incident reports, scientific reports and analyses, meeting papers, minutes and agendas.

Ascending file reference order

The Welsh Office Agriculture Department was formed in 1978, when the Welsh Office assumed sole responsibility for agricultural and fisheries matters in Wales; before 1978, this responsibility was shared with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAFF). The new department comprised four divisions: the General Agricultural Policy Division; the Animal Health, Land, and Labour Division; the Structure, Grants, and Drainage Division; and the Commodities and Agricultural Co-Operation Division. Four divisional agricultural offices were inherited from MAFF, situated at Carmarthen, Llandrindod Wells, Ruthin, and Caernarvon.

The Animal Health, Land Drainage and Fisheries Division was established in 1982 with a remit covering animal health and welfare; livestock improvement; meat hygiene; the veterinary profession and medicines; land drainage grants; Welsh fisheries; and agricultural emergencies. Responsibility for land drainage was transferred to ADAS (Agricultural Development Advisory Service) in 1988, and the Division was renamed the Animal Health, Animal Welfare and Fisheries Division. A research and development function was added in 1995 and the Division was again renamed, becoming the Animal Health and Welfare, Fisheries, Agricultural Emergencies and Research and Development Division. A final change of name took place in 1997, when the Division assumed responsibility for Agri-Environmental and Forestry matters and was renamed the Animal and Plant Health, Fisheries, and Countryside Division.

Responsibilities were divided across four branches: WOAD 2A Agri-Environmental, which oversaw the administration of various grant schemes (including capital grants and Environmentally Sensitive Area payments) and dealt with issues regarding the use of agricultural land; WOAD 2B Forestry, which was responsible for administering Woodland Grant Schemes and liaising with bodies such as the Forestry Commission and Coed Cymru; WOAD 2C Fisheries & Emergencies, which administered support measures and advice to the fishing industry and co-ordinated the response to agricultural emergencies; and WOAD 2D Animal Health, which advised on animal health and welfare, along with matters relating to meat hygiene.