Taking part in the Welsh Conservatives debate on rural communities, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy – a largely rural constituency – said: "Rural communities have long expressed their feelings of isolation from the Welsh Government, something which was exacerbated last year with the downgrading of the Agriculture Ministerial position to that of Deputy Minister.

"The recent decision to exclude the FUW and NFU from the Rural Development Plan Task and Finish Group is quite simply baffling and insulting given the fantastic and important work they do with farmers and farming communities.

"The Welsh Government must install a full seat at the Cabinet table for a Minister for Rural Affairs to engage in a meaningful way with rural Wales and take substantial action to reduce the vast inequalities in service provision that we see between rural and urban communities."

Wrth gymryd rhan mewn dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar gymunedau gwledig, dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod Cynulliad dros Aberconwy:

"Mae cymunedau gwledig eisoes wedi mynegi eu teimladau o ynysu oddi wrth y Llywodraeth Cymru, rhywbeth a oedd yn gwaethygu y llynedd gydag israddio'r sefyllfa Gweinidog Amaethyddiaeth i un Dirprwy Weinidog.

"Mae'r penderfyniad diweddar i wahardd Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru ac Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr o'r Grŵp ‘Task & Finish’ ar y Cynllun Datblygu Gwledig yn ddryslyd i mi ac yn sarhaus o ystyried y gwaith gwych a phwysig maent yn ei wneud gyda ffermwyr a chymunedau ffermio.

"Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru osod sedd lawn ar fwrdd y Cabinet i Weinidog dros Faterion Gwledig i gymryd rhan mewn ffordd ystyrlon gyda chefn gwlad Cymru a chymryd camau sylweddol i leihau'r anghydraddoldebau helaeth yn y ddarpariaeth gwasanaeth yr ydym yn gweld rhwng cymunedau gwledig a threfol."