Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. ‘Planning Policy Wales’ is clear the planning system should promote good environmental practice that includes minimising the risks of pollution. Guidance on slurry lagoons is available from Welsh Government as part of implementing the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Wales) Regulations 2010.
Lesley Griffiths: With respect, I don’t have to have any discussions with my Cabinet Secretary colleagues because I’m responsible for planning, too. So, I’m able to restructure planning policy, particularly in light of the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. I think it’s really important that we have that strategic and long-term commitment within the planning system to...
Lesley Griffiths: I haven’t personally had any, but I know my officials have. We’ve worked with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association also. It is a very important point that you raise about the capacity of the lagoons, as to how much can be used at any one time. I think that was part of the early engagement, prior to going out to consultation.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. As part of the development for the first national marine plan for Wales, various assessments have been undertaken. These have identified the potential of renewable energy opportunities along the Welsh coastline of more than 6 GW.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, we are awaiting, obviously, a decision by the UK Government. I know that there are many conversations going on between the company, along with Natural Resources Wales. I have met with the company to show that, in principle, we are absolutely committed to supporting the development of a sustainable tidal lagoon industry here in Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, certainly those conversations are ongoing and we are making progress.
Lesley Griffiths: As I said in my earlier answer to Dai Lloyd, we’re awaiting, obviously, the UK Government’s decision on this. I have met with them to show that, in principle, we are committed to supporting tidal lagoons here in Wales. Certainly, from the discussions I’ve had, you’re right: it is a novel technology, so we need to know more about it. But I absolutely think Wales and the UK could become...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, absolutely. We had hoped that the Hendry report would be submitted to the UK Government a little while before last week. We were hoping, certainly, the beginning of November. I’m very pleased that they’ve now got it. We look forward to their view of the report. I have requested, alongside my colleague Ken Skates, that we are fully engaged in discussions prior to any other...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We are tackling noise and air pollution in a number of ways. These include through local air quality management, industry regulation, the planning regime and the promotion of active travel. We are currently reviewing the responses to the public consultation seeking views on what more we can do in Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: I haven’t heard any complaints about the questions or the way that the consultation was put together. If you’ve received one or more, I’d be very interested to have a note from you so I can look at it. A great deal of thought went into that consultation document, and I think the questions we’ve asked are absolutely appropriate.
Lesley Griffiths: Across Cardiff, there are some localised areas where air pollution is problematic, I think mainly as a result of road traffic emissions. At these locations, we have air quality management areas that have been declared as such by the local authority. It’s their duty to tackle local air quality. I’ve been assured that their action plans will all be in place shortly in accordance with...
Lesley Griffiths: Absolutely. I think Birmingham are looking to electrify their taxi fleet, so it will be very interesting to see what they do. In relation to electric vehicles, I’m very keen to see us move to more electric vehicles, but, of course, a stumbling block or a barrier is the lack of recharging points. So, I’m looking to see if I can, perhaps, find some small amount of money so that I could help...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Our policy is to deliver programmes that bring together local people, groups, businesses and organisations to deliver services to improve where they live or work. This includes our eco-schools programme, which has 20 schools in inner Newport, empowering and inspiring young people to make positive environmental changes to their lives.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We absolutely recognise the importance of access opportunities for communities in order to promote better health and well-being. I think the Wales coastal path has not just been a hit with tourists; it’s absolutely been a hit with local communities and people right across Wales. We provide funding to NRW to maintain and improve the path, and there is a detailed work programme...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I thought the Member was going to invite me to join him on a litter pick, which I would be very happy to do, and I have undertaken several over the past few months. [Laughter.] But I absolutely congratulate the group. It’s been so good to see communities coming together and taking such pride. I went along to a litter pick in an area of Cardiff a couple of months ago, and it was...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The mayors’ commitment to ban diesel vehicles from these four cities by 2025 is one response to the growing public awareness of the health effects of air pollution. We are currently reviewing our air quality policies, following our consultation on the subject, which closed on 6 December.
Lesley Griffiths: I’m not sure, David, if you were in the Chamber when Simon Thomas raised a similar issue around this, and I was saying that, you know, you’re absolutely right. We’ve got this group of mayors—and I met several of them when I was at Conference of the Parties 22—who are being really ambitious with their targets for ending the use of diesel cars by 2025. I was saying in my previous...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I think it’s called science and moving on and learning. I absolutely would like to set a target to get rid of fossil fuel cars by a certain date, but to do that you have to make sure that we have, for instance, the metro, where we’ve got that sustainable transport in place for the public to use. But, absolutely, the way forward is to get rid of diesel cars and fossil fuel cars.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. An assessment of the oil spill at Nantycaws is currently being carried out by Natural Resources Wales. This will investigate the causes of the breach, its impacts and any action for Natural Resources Wales under its powers as regulator. Until this investigation is concluded, I cannot comment further.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I’ve been informed that the investigation by NRW isn’t going to be completed until the end of March, which is obviously quite a significant time away. So, I’m very happy to ask NRW to publish what they can before that time. I know that you are meeting NRW on Friday, so I’ll make sure that I do that ahead of time. I’m very concerned to hear of the public meeting last week...
