Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I don't think the Deputy Minister for Social Services was aware of the specific issue that you raise, and I think it would be really good if you could write to her, and she will certainly look into what was, obviously, a very worrying situation that you outlined. In relation to bus services, you'll be aware that, across Wales, we've had some issues with being able to provide some...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm very pleased to open this debate on the general principles of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill and to move the motion and the financial resolution. The Bill represents an important first step in our plans for agricultural reform. It is the first of its kind for Wales, and is a made-in-Wales policy designed to support Welsh priorities. Welsh farmers hold an...
Lesley Griffiths: Turning to the recommendations from the committees, given the detailed nature of the committee reports and the number of recommendations made—84 in total—it is not possible to respond to each one of them individually in the time available today. I have already provided a written response to the Finance Committee report prior to today’s debate, and I will be writing to the Economy, Trade...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I very much welcome all of the comments that have been made by Members today and the spirit in which they've been made. I've set out today why I believe this Bill is an important step in agricultural reform here in Wales and I've listened really carefully to the views and the recommendations of the three committees and, of course, to other Members as well. The Bill does...
Lesley Griffiths: I note what you say and defining sustainable land management by reference to the objectives and the duty does provide certainty I think in shaping possible action to the specific context of land management within Wales. Huw also mentioned around it being a broad, framework Bill, and, again, we can point to the affirmative procedure for the scrutiny of the Senedd when regulations are made in...
Lesley Griffiths: Analysis shows that families with children are more likely to be impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, particularly children from a household that has protected characteristics. We are supporting young people and their families through initiatives, including our childcare offer, help with school costs, free school meals, and our young person’s guarantee.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I would absolutely agree with you. We know that no child should go hungry, and local authorities and schools should work in partnership with families who are experiencing difficulties with payment of school meals to try and find a solution to ensure that no child goes without a meal at lunch time. There should be a system in place where parents are reminded in a timely fashion if the...
Lesley Griffiths: I'm really not sure where you think we will get the money from for that very extensive wish list. But just on your specific point around free transport for under-25s, as you'll be aware, it is a programme for government commitment, and the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is currently exploring that, but, given our very poor settlement from the UK Government, it's going to be very difficult...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, as I said in my earlier answer to Gareth Davies, fair fares is one of our programme for government commitments, so the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is exploring that. You outlined the benefits of having free public transport for our under-25s very eloquently. Certainly, I know my own daughters, when they were under 25, really thought it was something that could be done....
Lesley Griffiths: We recognise that there may be a link between the cost-of-living crisis and potential negative impacts on the NHS. We expect the health and care sector to identify those at most risk and signpost people to appropriate support as a way of averting demand on health services.
Lesley Griffiths: NHS Wales does help people who have dialysis at home to pay their bills. The Welsh renal network pays home dialysis patients' out-of-pocket expenses, i.e. the additional amounts of electricity and water that you use for the purpose of carrying out your dialysis treatment in your own home, as prescribed by their renal team. There are a number of renal charities as well in Wales that also...
Lesley Griffiths: We certainly know that patients suffering from cancer often have many additional costs. They may have to give up work, for instance, and they aren't able to access their salary in the way that they would normally do. Clearly, these are all things that health teams would consider, and I'm sure the Minister for Health and Social Services would. But, again, I go back to a previous answer that,...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, it's during this year.
Lesley Griffiths: As I said in my first answer to you, it will be this year, I know, because now I have responsibility for noise pollution. Soundscape is obviously part of the clean air Bill, and I know the Minister for Climate Change and I have a meeting tomorrow with our officials, so it is progressing in the way that you want it to, and we want it to as well. On other legislation, obviously, there is a...
Lesley Griffiths: No, it's very wide-ranging. As I say, the Minister and I are meeting tomorrow to discuss specific aspects of it, and obviously we will update the Chamber. But I think you raise a very important point. We know far too many people suffer poor health because of our poor air quality. You'll be aware of the 50 mph projects that we've had, that absolutely show that if you reduce your speed to 50...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I thought most people would welcome three months additional funding for our bus services. I think there has to be a much wider conversation, and I think the Deputy Minister for Climate Change has referred to this. We haven't seen the return to bus use that we did pre the pandemic. I can't remember if the figure was 70 per cent or 75 per cent, as to what has returned. So, 25 per cent or...
Lesley Griffiths: The Minister has had a series of meetings with the organisation you refer to. As the leader of Plaid Cymru knows, we have saved the bus industry with that emergency funding during the pandemic. As I said, bus use has changed. There is, I think, a broad agreement—and I think that organisation in its meetings with the Minister would accept that—that we really need to have a fresh look at...
Lesley Griffiths: As the Member knows, the bus service, unfortunately, was privatised. We're looking at unprivatising, if that's the correct word. We've got the bus Bill, which will be probably the most far-reaching plan across the UK, and I think it really will be a vital step to reversing the damage of deregulation. We do have to make sure that people have a bus service they can rely on that is easy to use...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We have provided over £71 million to flood risk management authorities across Wales this financial year. This includes £12.2 million in capital funding to RMAs in South Wales Central this year. This will be used for improvement works to flood risk management infrastructure, benefiting approximately 1,280 properties directly.
Lesley Griffiths: I'm not aware of any plans to set up flood action groups, but I'm sure they could be looked at locally. I mentioned the significant funding we've put into trying to protect as many houses as we possibly can, but I think everybody accepts, with climate change, that it's not going to be possible to do that 100 per cent. But I absolutely agree with you; I was the Minister with responsibility for...
