Hannah Blythyn: Reuse plays an important role in achieving our zero-waste ambitions, with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste between now and our 2050 zero-waste target. In November, I announced an additional £5.4 million across eight new projects to improve reuse and recycling levels across Wales.
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for that and for highlighting the excellent work that Reseiclo does. In my previous role as Minister for the Environment, and still with having responsibility for this, I've visited a number of re-use centres: FRAME in Pembrokeshire, Crest Co-operative in north Wales and also most recently The Shed in Llantrisant. So, I'd be more than happy to join you on a visit and to...
Hannah Blythyn: We are committed to supporting the development of co-operative housing in Wales and community-led housing more generally. Through our co-operative housing in Wales project, we fund, with the Wales Co-operative Centre, to encourage, promote and support housing co-operatives.
Hannah Blythyn: The Member talks about innovative initiatives that are happening elsewhere, not just in Europe but across the world globally. I agree there are things we can learn from elsewhere in housing as well as other public policy areas as well. Likewise, there are things where other countries could learn from the things that we are doing. We do have innovations in co-operative housing in Wales. At the...
Hannah Blythyn: Effective planning in rural areas is best achieved by having local development plans in place setting out the planning strategy for rural areas. 'Planning Policy Wales: Edition 10' has strengthened planning guidance on rural areas by requiring effective placemaking to ensure development promotes prosperity, health and well-being.
Hannah Blythyn: The Member again raises important points in terms of public confidence in the processes going forward. I think there was a familiar smile all round when you mentioned a supermarket surgery—many an hour spent by many of us in this place at one of them. [Inaudible.]—many local authorities are currently in the process of reviewing their development plans. When the Welsh Government comes to...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Member for raising this important issue in the Chamber today? I know that you're a passionate and active advocate in this area, and in your opening you said that it was a privilege to be chair of the cross-party group for armed forces and cadets. And, whilst I'm relatively new to this role, it is a privilege for me to be asked to do this...
Hannah Blythyn: All Governments have a duty to support their ex-service personnel, especially the small minority who find difficulty in the transition to civilian life. As the Member said, it is only right that we give back to those who have given so much in service to their country. This is why Welsh Government supports the armed forces community, and is committed to continuing to do so in the future. It's...
Hannah Blythyn: I am extremely concerned by the devastating impact that the UK Government’s welfare reforms are having on low-income families, particularly those with children, in the south Wales Valleys and elsewhere. We have repeatedly expressed our concerns to the UK Government calling for a halt to rolling out of universal credit.
Hannah Blythyn: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to bring this important debate about the latest analysis published last week on the impact of the UK Government's welfare reforms on households in Wales. I would like to first turn to the amendments that have been tabled. I don't think that it will come as a surprise that we reject the amendment from the Conservatives, which at best seeks...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'd like to thank Members for their contributions to this considered debate today, and particularly Leanne Wood, Huw Irranca-Davies and Joyce Watson. You started off by talking about, actually, how a civilised society should be judged by how we treat our least well off and those who are suffering the most. Joyce, linking to that, you talk about the...
Hannah Blythyn: Yes, sure.
Hannah Blythyn: I don't think it's a criticism of officials directly or as individuals, but I do take on board what you're saying in terms of thinking about the language that we use. And, actually, this document is meant to be specifically a factual document, but I totally take on board that, actually, if we're not upfront and blunt about what these things actually are in practice, it does serve to...
Hannah Blythyn: We are promoting the importance of diversity through our Diversity in Democracy initiative. An evaluation of the work undertaken to date will be available soon. A further phase of the project will then start later this year, and build on the earlier work in advance of the next local government elections.
Hannah Blythyn: I'm sure that the Minister and I would be more than happy to put them right with respect to the resources and what they need to be doing. So, if you want to write to me with regard to specific authorities and outline what the concerns are, because we know that it's incredibly important if we want our councils and communities to reflect the communities that they serve, that they are getting...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her question. I think you raise a very valid point about the contribution that people who work or have worked for the local authority have to make to local democracy in local government. The Member will be aware that we will be bringing forward the local government and elections (Wales) Bill later this year, and we hope in that to take action to address the anomaly that...
Hannah Blythyn: We continue to give careful consideration, including seeking further legal clarification on aspects of the case, to how the environmental impact assessment within the planning system applies to the plant built by Biomass UK No. 2 Ltd. We will issue a decision as soon as possible.
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his question on this issue. As he is aware, the case raises complex issues about how the EIA applies to applications to amend planning conditions, which are taking some time to work through. Details of any Welsh Government instruction for legal advice, including whether legal advice is sought or given in relation to any matter, is protected by legal professional privilege.
Hannah Blythyn: Llywydd, given the ongoing legal process, it's not appropriate for me to comment or add a further comment to the answers already given today.
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. Last week, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of devolution in Wales, an occasion that provided an opportunity to reflect on our key achievements in the past two decades. Since its opening in 2012, the Wales coast path has established itself as a beacon of our nation's natural beauty. Its route stretches 870 miles around our entire coastline...
