Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The river basin management plans, published in 2015, include detailed assessments of all Welsh water bodies and measures to improve water quality. There have been a number of significant agricultural pollution incidents in the past year, causing substantial damage, and I’ve made it clear these incidents are unacceptable.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and as you pointed out, Joyce Watson, whilst I said there have been a number of significant agricultural pollution incidents, they can be attributed to a very small percentage of agricultural holdings. Continual reoffending is not acceptable and fines should, of course, act as a deterrent rather than be seen as a running cost. And I think, in some cases, fines are simply not...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, and certainly in our discussions I’ve made you aware that I’m very happy to look at planning policy to make sure, as you say, they are very well run, because there can be nothing worse than having the sort of pollution to which you allude.
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government will support the farming industry in Pembrokeshire, as in all parts of Wales, to become more profitable, sustainable, resilient, and professionally managed. Over 800 businesses in the region have signed up to Farming Connect, a vital element of our support to farming, food and forestry businesses.
Lesley Griffiths: I am looking at food and drink packaging as part of my refresh of ‘Towards Zero Waste’, which will become our route map for a circular economy in Wales. I fully support the proposed ban on microbeads and we are working with the Marine Conservation Society on marine litter.
Lesley Griffiths: We are currently working with local authorities to ensure we value and protect urban trees, identifying their wider benefits using iTree Eco survey methodology. Welsh Government’s green infrastructure capital fund includes a focus on improving the quality of the urban environment. The potential for urban woodland projects is being explored.
Lesley Griffiths: Agricultural powers belong to the people of Wales and I am accountable as Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for agriculture to this Assembly. I have repeatedly made it clear, post-Brexit there will be a distinct Welsh agriculture policy. However, I recognise the need for the UK to work together on certain matters.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Presiding Officer. Last December, I set out my priorities in relation to energy. And, today, I want to focus on accelerating the transition of the energy system in Wales, particularly through the increased deployment of renewable energy. Our energy system has undergone dramatic changes in recent years, and there is further transformational change to come. The Paris agreement is...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank David Melding for welcoming the statement and also for his questions. I was very clear to officials that I wanted ambitious, but achievable targets. I hear what you say about Scotland, and I obviously realise they do have a target of 1 GW of locally owned generation, for instance, by 2020, and our target is 2030. But I don’t think you can compare, and I think you alluded to that....
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Simon Thomas for a very long list of questions, which I will endeavour to cover. Again, you raised a similar point to David Melding about the 100 per cent target. I look very carefully at targets and, as I say, we did take expert advice, but I don’t think the grid would support a 100 per cent target at the moment. I don’t think the current UK Government energy market mechanisms...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, Neil Hamilton, I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree. I did have a little bet when I was doing some prep for the statement today—you know, how long it would take you to mention the word ‘China’. So, I’m glad you didn’t disappoint me. But the scientific evidence is clear: climate change is happening, and greenhouse gas emissions from man are extremely likely to be...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Mike Hedges for his questions. In relation to intermediate targets, no, I’ve set those targets. However, what I will do—when I brought forward the statement on energy last December, I committed to reporting annually. So, this December, I will be bringing forward an update on the policy statement from last year. I think, as part of that policy statement, we could then give the...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Paul Davies for those questions. Certainly, monitoring is continuous. I’d be very happy to give the Member an up-to-date response in relation to the project you refer to. I think Wales is very well placed to take advantage of any of the opportunities associated with the blue economy. We have a high tidal range, for instance, and of course I want to see Welsh companies doing that,...
Lesley Griffiths: I don’t have those figures to hand, but you’re quite right; it’s really important that we have the innovation, we have the research and development, we make sure the training and skills work alongside these projects. It’s certainly a significant amount of money, and I obviously meet with my colleague Julie James, The Minister for skills, in relation to ensuring that we have those...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Julie Morgan for those questions. You’re absolutely right about climate change; we’ve obviously got a long-standing commitment around climate change. We’re only a small country, but I’m very proud of the commitment that we’ve given on the action that we take on climate change. You mentioned Germany, and certainly, out in Marrakesh at COP22, to talk to some of the very small...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much, Chair. I too would like to thank Joyce Watson for choosing this topic as her short debate this week. We know that flash flooding can have devastating effects on the lives of those affected and that’s why it is a priority area of work for this Government. This is reflected in our commitment, through ‘Taking Wales Forward’, to continue to invest in flood defence work...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Members will recall my statement in June where I set out my plans to enhance the TB eradication programme in Wales, and 1 October marked the start of an enhanced approach to TB eradication—one that has proved successful in other countries that have either eradicated this disease, or are well on their way to doing so. This regionalised approach to disease...
Lesley Griffiths: Through the regionalised approach to TB eradication, we’ve established a low TB area. Epidemiological analysis of surveillance data shows the majority, if not all, TB breakdowns in the low TB area are the result of undetected infection brought in through cattle movements from other areas. This evidence of non-endemic disease in the low TB area means we are now in a position to change the...
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Paul Davies for the comments, for welcoming the statement, and for his questions. You’re absolutely right, we have to work very closely with the industry, with the farming unions, with the vets, with the individual farmers who aren’t members of farming unions, and also with all stakeholders. I do want to assure Members that that absolutely is the way that we’ve approached this....
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Simon Thomas, for welcoming the statement and for your questions. You’re quite right, it is a matter of public health as well as animal welfare. I think we all share that aim of Wales being TB free. That’s why, because of that plateau—we knew that was coming—it was really important that we refreshed the TB programme. In relation to your specific question, you’re quite...
