Lesley Griffiths: We control air pollution in a number of ways, including through local authority-led air quality management, industry regulation and the promotion of active travel. Addressing air pollution also requires stakeholder collaboration. We are currently undertaking a consultation on air quality and noise management seeking views on what more we can do.
Lesley Griffiths: I refer you to my written statement yesterday. In summary, I raised the profile of Wales’s strategic legislation and the practical action we are taking. I am inspired by the global effort driving the transition to a low-carbon economy, and I am determined Wales will play its part.
Lesley Griffiths: We have invested over £0.75 million in our local energy service in the first nine months of this year. As a result of Welsh Government support, eight schemes are completed, providing benefit to the local area, and a further six are in construction.
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government has provided significant funding to facilitate access including developing the coast path and improving the public path network. I will decide on what changes, if any, are required in this Assembly term, based on the 5,800 responses received to last term’s consultation and other evidence gathered.
Lesley Griffiths: Where work is carried out under Welsh Government Warm Homes schemes, any problems reported by householders are referred to the scheme managers to resolve. Where work is carried out under UK wide schemes, householders are signposted to the most appropriate service, depending on the nature of the problem.
Lesley Griffiths: We are committed to engaging with farmers across Wales to deliver successful and sustainable rural communities, including via our Farming Connect service. I meet farming representatives regularly and have hosted a series of events with stakeholders to discuss the implications of Brexit.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides controls and supports enforcement on a number of issues, including the disposal of controlled waste, litter and remedial action for contaminated land. Under the devolution settlement, we have successfully amended the Act to enable its application to more specifically address Wales’s needs.
Lesley Griffiths: I know we have exchanged correspondence on this issue, and I think I probably said in the letter to you that local authorities do have a high degree of autonomy and flexibility on this issue, and that allows them, really, to respond to local needs and reflect local priorities. I would still encourage people to participate in the consultation that is taking place in Powys, and I still don’t...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I’m taking forward a number of initiatives designed to tackle this invasive species. These include the continuation of biocontrol trials to establish a non-native psyllid and the development of a fungus-based herbicide designed specifically to control this plant.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, you are aware, obviously, of the results of the chemical trials that were held by Swansea University. They were published last year, and I think what they showed was there wasn’t a one-hit wonder, really, in relation to tackling this very difficult condition. There has been a planned series of treatments, which is absolutely the key to having effective control. I don’t know if...
Lesley Griffiths: This is something that I am monitoring and, as I said, we are continuing to fund the trials. We’ve just funded phase 2 this year of the biocontrol trials, so I think we need to evaluate that before making any decisions on the way forward.
Lesley Griffiths: I’m sure the Assembly Member will be pleased to learn that I think a letter is already winging its way to my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. You will have heard Mark Drakeford say—obviously, he was on his feet for the tail end of the Chancellor’s announcement—certainly, once we’ve had a look at the small print, and the Minister’s had the chance to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Yes, I was very pleased to attend COP22, and I don’t think it was too short to say that it was a life-changing experience. I met some inspirational people, and I hope Members have had the opportunity to read the written statement I issued last night. You’re quite right that our target is to reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020. That’s a cross-Government commitment....
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I was very pleased to announce that all electricity bought for public services in Wales by the National Procurement Service from next year will be 100 per cent renewable, and there was a great deal of interest from other states and nations as to how we’re going to achieve that. I will be making a statement next month on energy policies for this term of Government, and it’s certainly...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I don’t think there’s an ambition gap, and I mentioned in my previous answer to Simon Thomas that I had bilaterals with my Cabinet Secretary colleagues before I went to COP22. That was very specifically done. I don’t think there’s a lack of ambition in any portfolio across Government. I do accept that, for us to achieve our target of reducing carbon emissions by 2020, we need to...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, we have started the process of getting our carbon budgets in place. Again, I think we need to do more to align those carbon budgets with our financial budgets, and something I learned at COP22 was how this was being done in other countries. If I can expedite it in any way, I will do so.
Lesley Griffiths: You are right that we have the future generations Act, we have the environment Act, we’ve got this world-breaking legislation, and it is now all about implementation. I don’t think my SI assessments are vague. I think they’re a very important part, obviously, of our budget. I think that they can be improved on going forward, and I think, when I mentioned in my previous answer about...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I was very pleased to answer Simon Thomas’s questions about the very important conference that I attended last week. I’m not going to debate whether I believe in something with a Member of UKIP, frankly. That science has been there for many years.
Lesley Griffiths: In relation to windfarms, I do understand that some people have concerns about it, but I would think that those people would also be concerned if, when they put the light on, it didn’t come on. It’s about making sure that we absolutely invest in renewable energy going forward.
Lesley Griffiths: I absolutely recognise that existing energy sources such as coal play an important role in the Welsh economy and in providing our energy, but what we need to look at is not just the current energy mix but the energy mix going forward. In light of the Paris agreement, which you may not want to sign up to, but I’m absolutely happy to sign up to and I think most Members in this Chamber would...
