Lesley Griffiths: We’ve always looked at this disease holistically, and it’s really important that we work in partnership together with our farmers. It is a dreadful disease and I don’t underestimate the emotional impact it has. And as you say, it has a financial impact, of course, and I’ve spoken to several farmers over the summer on visits around this dreadful disease. As you have just referred...
Lesley Griffiths: Farmers in Pembrokeshire received over £17 million of basic payment scheme payments during the past year, and our Farming Connect service continues to provide crucial support and advice. As you heard before, I was very pleased to attend the Pembrokeshire county show last month, and really enjoyed being able to meet the farming community in Pembrokeshire once more.
Lesley Griffiths: The cake and tea is always good on farm visits, I’ve always found, and certainly I’d be very happy to do a visit, if they would like to invite me, Huw. Small and medium-scale farms play an absolutely fundamental role in the resilience of so many of our rural communities, and that’s why they must be protected. As you say, it’s been a very uncertain time, and continues to be, for our...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I propose to create a new system of farm support, which maximises the protective power of nature through farming. This will be available to all types of farms in Wales, rewarding our active farmers who take action to respond to the climate and nature emergencies, supporting them to produce food sustainably.
Lesley Griffiths: No, not at all. The site has been identified as a potential development opportunity within the north Wales growth deal, for instance. I know that officials are working very closely with the north Wales economic ambition board to continue to explore investment and job opportunities at the site. There has been a spike in market interest recently, and I know that there are a number of enquiries,...
Lesley Griffiths: I'm not aware of any specific discussions in the way that you referred. I have outlined the work that we are doing as a Government to ensure that there is a focus on this, because we have certainly seen an increase in pet theft. I think that it is really important that owners take steps that they can do also to ensure the safety of them. We have certainly seen some horrendous cases that have...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. There have been no specific ministerial discussions regarding Parc Bryn Cegin. A recent BBC headline misleadingly suggested that the Welsh Government agreed the sale of the undeveloped business park. The sale of two plots have been approved by the Minister for Economy, and a number of further enquiries are being progressed.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, we are working closely, obviously, with the police. As I say, it's a criminal act. It's no different to stealing a car. It's far more emotive, and I absolutely understand that. As I say, I think that people are very afraid because we did see a significant rise in the theft of, particularly, dogs—puppies and dogs—during the pandemic, when there was that increased request for them....
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. As I just referred, that budget sits with the Minister for Climate Change, or the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, and, as you're aware, he's currently doing a review of roads. I'm not personally aware of any underspend and, obviously, we're not very well into this financial year yet. But, clearly, it might be advisable if you wrote to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The theft of pets is a criminal act. It is a reserved issue under the Theft Act 1968. DEFRA recently published the pet theft taskforce report and recommendations. My officials will continue to discuss the proposed UK Government's new criminal laws and how we can collaborate to tackle this serious issue, alongside issuing strong messaging on responsible ownership.
Lesley Griffiths: Obviously, in my capacity as Minister for north Wales, again, this has not been raised directly with me, but I'm sure that it has been raised—I'm not even sure if you haven't raised it—with the Minister for Climate Change. But I will certainly ask where the bid is and what work has been done with organisations to have a look at this bridge in Llanerch and I will write to the Member.
Lesley Griffiths: So, whilst I haven't had a discussion with the Minister for Climate Change, I have had a discussion with officials at Wrexham council. I did a visit to the aqueduct, and, of course, as you know, the road that you refer to, which, of course, Wrexham council are responsible for, is not far away. So, I know there's been a further meeting between transport officials and officers at Wrexham...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. I have not had any specific discussions with the Minister for Climate Change. However, transport officials have been in discussion with local authorities and are awaiting applications for funding this financial year for ground investigation and detailed design works. Local authorities are fully aware of what was required, and the sooner Welsh Government receives the information...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and it's great that you have a rescue dog. Certainly, when I was at the Dogs Trust last week—no, the week before, sorry—promoting our ban on third party sales, there were several greyhounds at the dog rescue. I probably shouldn't tell you that, because you'll be going round there. We did have a discussion around the number, because it was very obvious how many were there. I...
Lesley Griffiths: Again, I haven't really heard of the increase in ear cropping of dogs investigations that you refer to, but if you do have some specific examples of it, I'd be very keen for you to write to me so I can take it up with the chief veterinary officer and ask her to look into it. I think it is fair to say that a lot of the legislation, which isn't devolved—I mean, some of it is; some of it...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, just for the record, whilst we were later than England in relation to this, we went beyond Lucy's law. That's why it's not called Lucy's law; we went beyond that, and ours is far stronger. You will have heard my answer to Vikki Howells—I think it was question 1—around how we have been working. We haven't just been sitting back waiting for these regulations to come into force; we've...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 regulate dog breeding in Wales. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021 prohibit commercial third party sales of puppies from licensed premises. The Welsh Government is funding a three-year local authority project to improve consistency and enforcement of the current...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, there were quite a lot of questions and some very important points in those questions, and, certainly, I think, one of the things I've done since I've been in portfolio is to try and encourage processors to come to Wales to show that we're really keen to attract them here. Certainly, dairy—that was an area where we were seeing milk go over the border to England in a way that was not...
Lesley Griffiths: You raise a really important point, and I think it's about balance. You did raise this with me, and I've had a discussion with Lee Waters, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, who you'll be aware did a deep dive into tree planting as a whole. And clearly, the issue of agricultural land being sold to companies, particularly for carbon offsetting, is something that is a concern. But equally,...
Lesley Griffiths: In relation to your first question around tuna, as you say, the season only just started really last month. So, I don't think I'm in a position to give any data at the current time, but, obviously, once the season progresses, I'm sure I will be able to do that. Your substantive question referred to fishing policy over the last decade, and I really don't recognise the situation that you...
