Lesley Griffiths: Well, I haven’t had any specific discussions with the developer. I will check with my officials if they have and I’ll write to the Member.
Lesley Griffiths: I think that’s an issue we certainly need to look at, and I’m very happy to do that and will update the Member.
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government has a strong track record in supporting community renewable energy schemes. As a result of Welsh Government support, 11 schemes are up and running, providing benefit to the local area, and five more are in construction.
Lesley Griffiths: I’m very happy to support local energy schemes. I’ve been very fortunate, in that I opened a small hydropower one in Merthyr Tydfil, I visited the one that you refer to, and I mentioned in my initial answer to you that we’ve got 11 schemes up and running due to the working of the local community. I think there are some very passionate people out there who are very tenacious. It’s a...
Lesley Griffiths: I think there are some fantastic opportunities to be able to make savings in the areas that you’ve discussed. I’ve encouraged all Welsh public bodies to maximise the opportunity and, certainly, our green growth Wales initiative will help deliver these projects by providing a number of services, but also substantial finance.
Lesley Griffiths: It’s very important that local authorities do have that expertise in-house or, if not, they can collaborate with a neighbouring local authority to ensure that they do. I think that we don’t want to see logjams. I think it’s very important that these schemes are up and running as quickly as possible. I mentioned in my answer to Dai Lloyd that some of the people I’ve met who’ve...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The availability of quality green spaces and parks is important to people’s health and well-being. They provide opportunities for healthy recreation, support biodiversity and contribute to reducing flood risk and air pollution. Everyone should have access to quality green space near to where they live.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I was hoping that was a rhetorical question and you didn’t want me to actually give you a figure. Yes, I’m absolutely very happy to congratulate Pontypool Park. Maybe the Member would like to invite me to visit.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, no; I wouldn’t be able to justify that.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I would be very happy to discuss with Cabinet colleagues if that’s appropriate.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. As the environmental regulator of Aberthaw, Natural Resources Wales is responsible for reducing the nitrogen oxides emission limit in Aberthaw’s environmental permit, in line with the court judgment. Aberthaw must then comply with the revised limit. My officials will continue to monitor the progress of NRW and RWE towards compliance.
Lesley Griffiths: The letter was issued to Assembly Members. I think it was David Melding who made a request of the First Minister during First Minister’s questions last week. As Simon Thomas said, it just set out the limits throughout. There has been a fall, but you’re right that further work is going to be required to ensure that Aberthaw is able to operate before the 500 mg/cu m emissions ceiling. There...
Lesley Griffiths: I absolutely agree, and I do want to assure Members that I’ve been having discussions. I’ve met with RWE, I’ve met with Aberthaw, I’ve met with my colleague Jane Hutt in relation to this, and I have ensured that officials are monitoring the situation very carefully.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I very much welcome the opportunity for us to debate the potential for tidal lagoons in the UK following the recent publication of the Hendry report. Whilst we support the principle of tidal lagoons in Wales, we are very mindful, of course, to the key considerations and approvals that must be given to any proposed project, including full environmental...
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government provides significant levels of financial support for environmental projects which benefit the people of Wales both nationally and in their local communities. This includes core funding of over £21 million to successful applicants towards better management of our natural resources, increasing ecosystem resilience and delivery of commitments on biodiversity.
Lesley Griffiths: Leaving the EU raises many uncertainties for the agriculture sector in Wales. Officials are accessing a wide range of information sources to inform our understanding of the key vulnerabilities and opportunities. These analyses have already informed our position on EU exit as set out in the ‘Securing Wales’ Future’ White Paper.
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is working to support the agriculture sector in North Wales, as in all parts of Wales, to become more profitable, sustainable, resilient, and professionally managed. Almost 2,000 businesses in the region have signed up to Farming Connect, a vital element of our support to farming, food and forestry businesses.
Lesley Griffiths: Livestock markets across Wales are a critical component of the agricultural industry and offer significant employment within a rural area. They deliver competition to a marketplace that is heavily dominated by supermarket demands and allow farmers to buy and sell breeding, store and finished livestock which is fully traceable.
Lesley Griffiths: Torfaen County Borough Council receives annual funding via the environment and sustainable development single revenue grant to help deliver against key environmental priority areas; this includes local environment quality issues. This programme encourages local authorities to work collaboratively with key partners and local communities to target local needs and conditions.
Lesley Griffiths: Our internationally recognised environment Act draws from the key international obligations on climate change and biodiversity. Delivery against the Act and the wider framework of the well-being of future generations Act will ensure we deliver on our global environmental responsibility.
