Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, you're probably aware of a recent report from the future generations commissioner entitled 'Transport Fit for Future Generations'. [Interruption.] Thank you. On page 16 the report says that: 'Evidence consistently demonstrates that capacity increases on highway infrastructure generate more motorway trips, and generally, new capacity simply fills up over time,...
Gareth Bennett: Yes. I hear what you say about the south Wales metro, First Minister, but I believe there are possible doubts over the future funding of it, given your Government's commitment to the M4 relief road scheme. So, there may be some uncertainty over the south Wales metro. But, anyway, I don't want to go down that avenue today. I suppose, ultimately, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, I understand that the twenty-first century schools programme creates modernised school buildings and I'm certainly not—[Interruption.] I am certainly not—[Interruption.] I am certainly not—[Interruption.] Yes. I'm certainly not denigrating that. However, it does not necessarily create local schools. Indeed, the effect the programme has in some areas may be entirely the opposite....
Gareth Bennett: They voted to leave.
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. One of the consequences of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 has been the creation of public services boards. As you know, Minister, the main purpose of the PSBs is to strengthen joint working across all public services in Wales. How do you assess how well the PSBs are operating, and have we seen an improvement in joint working across the public services?
Gareth Bennett: Yes. Thanks. I hope so too. We had a scrutiny session on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee on the PSBs just before the summer recess, so we did have a snapshot from various organisations as to how well things were working. One point that was made by various witnesses was that we have several PSBs that aren't chaired by someone from a local authority. This can be a good...
Gareth Bennett: Yes. Thanks. We will see a variety of different working methods, I'm sure, and it may not be the same from one area to the next. Hopefully, they will work effectively. Now, the public services boards in Gwent—or what used to be Gwent—may be a good model. We were told on the committee that many PSBs in Gwent may be local authority led, but they don't feel as though they are local authority...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, there's been a lot of publicity recently over the issue of food labelling. As you will be aware, there have been some tragic cases where people have died, quite possibly due to lack of information on the label of a food product that they consumed. Do you agree that, as a matter of course, there should be clear labelling for food products in Wales so that all...
Gareth Bennett: Thank you for that very definitive answer and, of course, I entirely agree with you. Now, another related issue is the one of halal meat entering the mainstream food chain. As you know, halal meat, some 20 per cent of which comes from animals that are not stunned before they are slaughtered, is a growth industry in the UK. One issue related to this is that halal meat is only allowed for...
Gareth Bennett: I take the point that you raise, First Minister, but there is no evidence that kosher food is entering the mainstream food market, but there is some evidence that halal food is. So, that is the reason why I raised the issue specifically of halal food. Now, I don't think we should be downplaying this issue. I remember that we had a scandal over horse meat a few years ago, and I think this lack...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the Minister for bringing today's debate, and I think there have been very interesting contributions from everyone so far. I agree with the Minister that we do need a rehabilitative system as well as a punitive system, and I look forward to reading his blueprint for female and youth offenders. Hopefully that will take the debate forward, and we can look at things in a little bit...
Gareth Bennett: Thank you, Llywydd, for opening today's debate.
Gareth Bennett: We in UKIP note the proposed changes in the Commission report and in your recent statement. If I can go through some of the proposals individually, as the Welsh Assembly now has tax-raising powers, we have no objection to the name changing to Welsh Parliament. Regarding the Plaid Cymru suggestion of 'Senedd', of course 'Senedd' is an excellent phrase as far as it goes for the Welsh version of...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, of course.
Gareth Bennett: I do, actually, Llyr, but I think if you asked many members of the general public they wouldn't know what the Dáil is or the Taoiseach. [Interruption.] Oh, in Ireland, yes; okay, we have to relate it to Ireland. Well, that's an interesting point. Let me have a think about that. You've raised a good point. We do agree with the proposed changes relating to disqualification. We did have an...
Gareth Bennett: Thanks to the two Members for bringing today's debate, and also to Neil McEvoy who's been very active in campaigning on this issue. There has been an awful lot of public anxiety about this issue of materials being dumped in the Bristol channel, as we've heard today, yet again. We've had a petition that gained more than 7,000 signatures. We've had Members from all four parties in the Assembly...
Gareth Bennett: Diolch, Llywydd. I add my condolences to the families of people who were affected by the tragic events at the weekend. Now, First Minister, you will be well aware of the environmental effects of wood burning. Wood burning is seen by some environmentalists as a source of air pollution. Burning wood from trees also releases concentrated toxins back into the air, increasing our carbon footprint....
Gareth Bennett: Thank you for that answer. There are some contentious arguments going on about wood burning and biomass, as to whether that really is renewable, so I will ask you on that, if I may. Now, a few weeks ago at First Minister's questions, you were telling us how EU regulations and guidance were helping Wales and the UK to protect the environment. And yet I now see that the EU has recently promoted...
Gareth Bennett: Yes, you're using your well-worn anecdote about the River Irwell in Salford again. Well, we don't have to go as far away as the River Irwell—you also cite the River Ogmore. We had two rivers in Cardiff that would also change colour, so I'm not disagreeing with you on that—the Taff would turn black with coal dust; the Ely would change into various bright colours as it passed Ely...
Gareth Bennett: I will. You seem to have a blind faith in EU directives and regulations, and yet—[Interruption.]
