Lesley Griffiths: Starbucks, yes. [Laughter.] They were telling me about a pilot that they’ve got in London, where they have bins where people can tip it if there’s something left in the cup, and then, in the next bin, they can recycle their cup. So, there is work going on out there. I said that we’d be very happy to have a pilot here in Wales, going forward. So, I think it’s very clear, from the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Russell George, for bringing this subject forward for debate today. I think as you said in your opening remarks, we really have set our course as a leader in recycling and waste management. We’ve got the highest in the UK, and the fourth highest in Europe. I believe that our ambitions and our targets really will take us to first place in...
Lesley Griffiths: No, absolutely. I was just making a general point that there are very good bring sites now, and they have to be taken into consideration. But you’re quite right—businesses obviously can’t use those. So, despite the challenges that I think Powys face, they are making excellent progress on recycling, and, again, it’s seen a significant increase in its recycling rate from the 59.1 per...
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government continues to fund Fly-tipping Action Wales, an initiative co-ordinated by Natural Resources Wales and which aims to secure a long-term reduction in fly-tipping through a combination of measures. We are also currently consulting on the introduction of fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping.
Lesley Griffiths: National planning policy provides a comprehensive framework for protecting the countryside from overdevelopment. At the same time, national planning policy encourages an approach towards rural areas that supports living and working communities that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.
Lesley Griffiths: Environmental vandalism is an issue the Welsh Government takes very seriously and is committed to continue tackling. Our Well-being of Future Generations Act encourages us to focus on prevention, to involve people in well integrated measures and for collaboration across organisations as we work for long term, sustainable solutions.
Lesley Griffiths: Plans for woodland management are guided by the Welsh Government’s forestry strategy, ‘Woodlands for Wales’, and will in future be shaped by the national natural resources policy. The strategy establishes the long-term vision for the sustainable management of Wales’s woodlands and trees to provide benefits for future generations.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The UK’s future exit from the European Union raises many questions and uncertainties for the future of Wales’s fishing industry. To help safeguard the prosperity of the industry and our coastal communities, my department will be developing a forward-looking fisheries policy, as set out in the ‘Securing Wales’ Future’ White Paper.
Lesley Griffiths: I think it’s a little too early to assume Brexit will be as positive as the Member portrays for the fishing industry overall. But I absolutely accept—and I’ve said many times—that, while leaving the EU poses many risks and challenges, there are opportunities going forward. I think market access is absolutely critical, and, as I said, we will have a common fisheries policy going...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, I hope, in my answer to Neil Hamilton, you accepted that I said I think the presumption that it’s going to be a very positive thing is a little early. But, you know, as I said, there are opportunities, and I think we do need that more flexible approach. You mention specifically scallops and mussels, and how we move forward, particularly in relation to seafood. I’m going...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I mentioned in my answer to Simon Thomas that I’m going out to the seafood expo in Brussels. I’ve given funding for that. I think it’s very important that I personally go out there, to make sure everybody knows about our great Welsh seafood industry. We’ve also had the seafood strategy, which I helped launch with the industry about three or four months ago.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. This financial year, we are investing £26.5 million in Welsh Government Warm Homes to improve the energy efficiency of our housing stock and help tackle fuel poverty. I’m currently considering funding options for the next four years and will be making an announcement by the end of March.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I am aware of Age Cymru’s statement on fuel poverty and, certainly, we are currently considering the proposals that they’ve recommended in the development of our wider fuel poverty policy going forward. We’ve already responded to many of the proposals that they have brought forward in our response to the Nest consultation that was published just before Christmas. So, for instance,...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I mentioned in my answer to Huw Irranca-Davies that I was looking at the proposals that came from the Age Cymru statement on fuel poverty in the development of our wider fuel poverty policy going forward.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you for your welcoming of the statement in relation to the three extra areas in relation to harbour porpoises. There is a significant piece of work going on around marine policy and marine planning. I think it’s very important that we have the Welsh national marine plan in place, and I hope to do that by the summer.
Lesley Griffiths: I’m sure the Member accepts that we’re all financially constrained and, certainly, I meet with NRW on a monthly basis—with the chair and chief executive—and I am satisfied that they do have the resources in place, yes.
Lesley Griffiths: Certainly, I’ve been in post eight months and I don’t recall bringing one forward, so I will look into that and, if appropriate, make a statement and, if not, I will write to the Member.
Lesley Griffiths: The precautionary measures will stay in place until 28 February. You’re quite right—85 per cent of our egg production in Wales is free-range. I met this morning with the chief veterinary office, and, yes, she is having discussions with the other administrations. I know that, yesterday, she had discussions with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials and also this...
Lesley Griffiths: I’m not really in a position currently to give you a decision around extending past 28 February. As I said, I met with the CVO this morning and I’m meeting her again next week, following her discussions with colleagues. I think we need to look at a balance. We can’t keep the birds in-house forever. However, I mentioned that we’ve just had our eighth case on Monday across the UK, so...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Simon Thomas raises a very important point. When I came into portfolio and saw that 89 per cent of our egg production was free-range I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have 100 per cent?’ But, clearly, out of a clear blue sky, this sort of thing drops on you. The free-range industry have already contacted me asking for a meeting; I’m very happy to meet with them. We know...
