Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is progressing a foundational economy policy, of which food is an integral part. Cabinet colleagues and I regularly discuss linkages between our portfolios and the wider procurement of local produce. Local authorities and schools are responsible for purchasing food for school meals and procuring from agreed suppliers.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We obviously recognise the very clear benefits of procuring local produce in terms of issues, and that includes food miles, which, obviously, would play into the significant part of your question. I also think if you use local produce, it helps children and young people really connect with their local environment too. There are a couple of local authorities that are working very...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I haven't had any discussions, certainly with this part of the portfolio; I would imagine the Minister for Climate Change, that would now fall within her remit. But I think it is really important that we work with the groups, such as you suggest, because if we're going to get good environmental status, for instance, for our waters, which we are trying to achieve at the moment, we...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I can reassure Joyce Watson that dredge fishing for scallops is highly regulated in Welsh waters, and that includes through spatial restrictions as well. We closely monitor the activity. We take enforcement action wherever necessary, and this is principally done by tracking vessels using the vessel monitoring systems that we have on our fisheries patrol vessels, which include...
Lesley Griffiths: Well done on being appointed the Atlantic grey seal champion. You should have a little competition with your colleague Darren Millar how many times you can say what you're champion for in the Chamber. [Laughter.] I think it's been very lovely to see how many seal pups we have seen around our coast over the summer. Going back to your specific question about the conversations that the Minister...
Lesley Griffiths: I have regular discussions with the Minister for Climate Change, and we are working across portfolios to develop the joint fisheries statement to set out policies for sustainable fisheries management to deliver the fisheries objectives. This will include our commitment to the delivery of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring high standards of welfare for all animals kept in Wales at all stages of their life, including at the point of slaughter. Our programme for government includes a commitment to require CCTV in all slaughterhouses during this Government’s term.
Lesley Griffiths: The situation is serious and the Welsh Government is supporting the industry as appropriate. UK Government policy has caused these problems, and the Minister for Economy has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking the UK Government to recognise the importance of these labour issues and to act accordingly.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think, whilst I've been on my feet, the Minister for Social Justice has issued a written statement on hate crime. But we've been very clear that the current hate crime regime that we have isn't fit for purpose. It fails to deal with misogyny, and I think that's an absolute major demonstration of what is wrong with the regime. Earlier this year, you may be aware, the UK Government...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think you make a very important point about the role that canals play, certainly in relation to biodiversity, and you will be aware it's COP15 this week, which really highlights biodiversity. We do make a range of statements, and I'm sure the Minister will be making one following COP15, where she can cover that.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We are very concerned, as a Government, at the reduction of banking services right across Wales. We've seen an ever increasing number of bank closures across the country. So, we do continue to use our influence, both with the UK Government and with the banking sector, to ensure that high street banking services are maintained. I don't think it's just the digitally excluded; we all...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. And as you say, the written statement was issued yesterday, giving us an update on coal tip safety by the Minister for Climate Change. There's a huge amount of work that's gone into this piece of work—partnership working between the Coal Authority, UK Government, local authorities and Welsh Government. And as you say, there have been further coal tips highlighted as having high...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Yes, I was very, very pleased to see that my constituency of Wrexham had been shortlisted for UK City of Culture; I think the announcement will be made in May of next year. And certainly, as a Welsh Government, we will be doing all we can to look at how we can support Wrexham, and I know that the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip is currently in discussions. You...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. With regard to your first point around the Supreme Court's decision, I know that the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution is currently having discussions to understand the implications of that decision. In relation to LCMs, I think we have seen a significant number—I think we've got about 14 at the moment that the Welsh Government are considering. At the current...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I know the Minister and her officials are working closely with the health board around this issue. You mentioned that, hopefully, they would only be in place until 18 October, so there will not be time to have a Government statement, but I'm sure if the Minister has anything new that she wishes to inform Members of, she will do a written statement.FootnoteLink
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Laura. We are well on our way on the journey to making our new curriculum a reality in our schools and other settings across Wales. Of course the pandemic has affected preparations for reform. The recent survey results from the Education Workforce Council, and the Government social research service, show the challenges that obviously we face due to the pandemic. But there does...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's Plenary business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Lesley Griffiths: If the Minister for Social Justice has promised to publish a statement, either an oral one or a written one, I can assure the Member it will be absolutely included in our Government business.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I'm unaware as to when the task and finish group will report, but I'm sure, when it does to the Minister for Health and Social Services, she will update us.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Huw Irranca-Davies. So, in relation to free banking for charities and community groups, I think it's safe to say we've certainly seen a number of voluntary organisations, right across Wales, experience difficulties with regard to banking services. That's in terms of identifying an account that is free, as well as being open, in the first place, because, of course, we've seen a...
