Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Chair. I’m surprised that Lee Waters had some puzzled looks, because after you raised this with me during one of my questions sessions a couple of months ago, I had lots of people come up to me about precision agriculture. So, I think it’s really good that we’ve got this opportunity to debate this subject further today. Simon Thomas mentioned in his remarks that there is a...
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: Diolch, Lywydd. Our energy system is going through significant change. This statement reflects this changing context, and sets out Welsh Government priorities in relation to energy. The Paris agreement is driving the international decarbonisation agenda. We are seeing rapid developments in renewables, storage and demand reduction. At COP22 in Marrakesh, I met leaders who’ve made progress in...
Lesley Griffiths: We will build on changes we introduced in 2014 to further reduce the climate impact of new developments in Wales. I anticipate this work will start towards the middle of 2017. We’re also increasing investments in public sector energy-efficiency projects. By the end of this financial year, we expect to have invested approximately £35 million in cost-reducing projects. I will continue to...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank David Melding for his comments and questions. As I said at the start, our priorities remain as set out in ‘Energy Wales: A low carbon transition’, ‘Green Growth Wales’ and other policies that have come forward. If going to COP22 in Marrakesh taught me one thing, it was about the whole decarbonisation agenda and how we need to focus on the different sectors to make sure we...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Simon Thomas. As I said in my answers to David Melding, I do think we will need targets and I’m very happy to bring those forward, perhaps in the next statement or via a written statement. But I want to make sure those targets are realistic and pragmatic, and I saw some very ambitious targets by some countries, or by some states and regions particularly, in the meetings that I...
Lesley Griffiths: Neil Hamilton is just so negative. You really need to recognise what we’re trying to achieve with decarbonisation. It’s about security of energy mix, which I am aware the UK Government are also responsible for. It’s about cost and affordability and it’s about decarbonisation. You go on about China and India et cetera; I’m focusing on Wales, and it’s not just about cutting carbon...
Lesley Griffiths: You’re quite right, and the Minister for local government and finance is hearing what I say also. I’m pleased you recognise the good work that’s been done with Arbed and Nest. But you’re right: we absolutely have to accelerate programmes such as this if we are going to meet our targets. As I say, the one thing that COP22 taught me, talking to other states and regions, is we’ve got...
Lesley Griffiths: Currently, Natural Resources Wales are bringing forward the area statements. I will then be able to work with local authorities in relation to that. I haven’t decided if there’s going to be further guidance, but I think it is something that we can work very closely on—or NRW can certainly do so—working in partnership, Welsh Government, local authorities and NRW, going forward with...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. I declared Wales as an avian influenza prevention zone, a precautionary measure to help prevent infection from wild birds. Working closely with England and Scotland, we are monitoring the situation and have increased surveillance. I have urged keepers to improve biosecurity and be vigilant for signs of disease.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, the press release did go out from my office last night, so I’m not quite sure why the press release wasn’t picked up. That’s not something, obviously, I have control over. The decision wasn’t taken jointly with UK Government, with DEFRA, or with Scotland. I had conversations with our chief veterinary officer yesterday. She has been in very close contact with,...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you for those questions. I should say that the risk level of avian influenza incursion into the UK is at ‘medium’ for wild birds—that has been raised from ‘low but heightened’—and is at ‘low but heightened’ for domestic poultry. As I say, I do want to say very clearly that this is a precautionary message. I haven’t been asked for any additional funding. I think, when a...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Welsh Government has an established history of support in this area, which is currently continuing under the local energy service. As a result of our support, nine local energy schemes have been constructed. This includes Friends of Taff Bargoed in the Merthyr valley and four more currently being constructed.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Taff Bargoed scheme is a really excellent example of local people coming together, making the most of opportunities that exist within their community, and our vision is to see far more communities and businesses using locally generated renewable energy, and earning an income in the process—I think that’s another thing to think about. I mentioned in my initial answer that we...
Lesley Griffiths: I’ll have to write to the Member with a note on that.
