Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Simon Thomas, for, again, his broad welcome for the new eradication programme and for his questions. I absolutely agree with you about the detrimental impact. Some of the most distressing conversations I’ve had with farmers since I’ve been in post over the last year have been around TB, so I absolutely agree with you on that point. In relation to the new approach within the...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I am hoping that will soon be—. I’m going to have a conversation with Michael Gove in the morning, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to reinstate our monthly meetings as quickly as possible. You ask about how I will report to this place, whether it’s in the Chamber or with the committee. I certainly think I need to report annually, so we can look at whether that’s here or to the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Neil Hamilton, again for your welcome for the refreshed TB eradication programme and for your questions. Actually, you said about Simon Thomas, I didn’t refer to the question around the informed purchasing scheme that Simon asked about, and you said that you thought I answered Paul Davies with sadness. We did bring this grant funding forward in the hope that all livestock markets...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Joyce Watson for her questions and I absolutely know her views on a badger cull just as much as she knows mine. You’ll be very aware this is just about those chronic herd breakdowns. These plans, these bespoke action plans, which will be drawn up—which, if it’s proven there is, or there’s evidence that there is, contact between badgers and cattle that could be contributing to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, David Melding, for those questions. You’re absolutely right. This has all been done on an evidence base—that’s how we should make our decisions. But I’m very happy to look at anything that anybody suggests to get that aim that we want, and that’s that TB-free Wales. I hear what you say about the high-risk areas being concerned about, you know, if north-west Wales is...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Mark Reckless, for your contribution. You’re absolutely right; it had to be a meaningful consultation. You may remember when I came to committee just before Christmas—we launched the consultation in October and I think it ran to the middle of January, and I was extremely concerned that, in the run-up to Christmas, we’d had something like 15 responses. I knew how important...
Lesley Griffiths: In response to the first question, I think I’ve answered that, but, if any farmer believes they’ve got cattle worth more than £5,000, I would suggest that they look at insurance. However, it’s something that we will continue to monitor, the new cap on the compensation. The bespoke actions plans in relation to the chronic herd breakdowns, we have started to pull those together. So,...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. This debate focuses on the important role of the Welsh public sector in meeting Wales’s statutory commitments and ambitions around decarbonisation. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 commits Wales to a long-term target of reducing emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050, as well as interim targets and five-yearly carbon budgets. This sets out a long-term framework for...
Lesley Griffiths: At my attendance at COP22 in Marrakesh last November, I clearly saw how transitioning to a low-carbon economy brings many opportunities around energy efficiency, clean growth, quality jobs and global market advantages. This cannot only be seen within the economy. There are wider benefits such as enhanced places to live and work, with clean air and water and improved health outcomes. These...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to all Members who’ve taken part in the debate. I think in this very challenging economic climate how we respond to the challenges and the investments we make now will absolutely determine the viability of the public sector and our collective future in Wales. We know that decisions we make today will either usher in a new era of...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Food waste recycling and prevention are promoted through the Recycle for Wales behaviour change campaign, run by WRAP Cymru, including the Love Food Hate Waste app. I’m discussing with local authorities the possibility of funding an enhanced behaviour change campaign, to include further reinforcing these messages.
Lesley Griffiths: It is really important that householders do understand what happens, and we’ve now got 99 per cent of households able to put their food waste forward to be used in this way. WRAP Cymru work with local authorities across Wales to increase food waste contribution for the anaerobic digester hubs. And, last year, one local authority saw food waste levels double as a result of the campaign, and...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I mentioned, in my answer to Vikki Howells, the Love Food Hate Waste app. I don’t know whether you’ve seen it, but it’s a new app that’s just been published. I’m kind of in two minds about it. It’s based on Tinder, so it’s sort of putting the two matches together, if you like. So, if you’ve got a potato left over on this day, and an egg left over on this day, how do you...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, anaerobic digestion is getting more popular, and we are seeing more. I’ve got one in my constituency—I think it was one of the first in Wales—and we certainly are seeing a few more. Natural Resources Wales are responsible for regulating them. You will be aware of some issues. Hefin David raised some issues around this, in business statement yesterday, I think. So, we do need to...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. I intend to republish a revised technical advice note 20 on planning and the Welsh language before summer recess. The revised TAN will support the aims of the Government’s new Welsh language strategy, Cymraeg 2050, and incorporate key messages from a new Welsh language risk assessment framework for major developments.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I am unable to comment on the Pen y Ffridd appeal. Obviously, it’s before Welsh Ministers for determination at the present time. I have to say that the revised TAN won’t include wholesale changes. I think the current version continues to provide sound advice to developers and local authorities in the meantime.
Lesley Griffiths: We constantly monitor planning policy and TANs, and, obviously, update guidance to local authorities. The way it’s disseminated then to community councils and parish councils is very important, because, as you say, they do have an important role to play in planning applications. So, that’s work that officials do with local authorities, and that information is then disseminated down.
Lesley Griffiths: That work is currently being undertaken.
Lesley Griffiths: That will be part of the assessment and the monitoring, because I think it’s very important that we do see an improvement in that area.
Lesley Griffiths: I don’t disagree with you, and, obviously, with the implementation of the planning Act, it’s very important that we do see the improvements to which you refer.
