Julie James: Our commitment is absolutely demonstrated in the investments that we are making: over £197 million of housing support and homeless prevention services, and a record £310 million in social housing this year alone. We do not underestimate, however, the scale of the challenge facing households across Wales, who are, understandably, extremely worried about the impact of the cost-of-living...
Julie James: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. People across Wales are facing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, fuelled by soaring energy, fuel and food costs. But, Dirprwy Lywydd, let's be clear: this is entirely a Tory-made crisis, from a decade of austerity to cruel cuts to benefits and broken promises on taxes. Mortgage bills are rising as a result of the fallout from the mini budget, or fiscal event, or...
Julie James: Formally. Formally.
Julie James: I just wanted to, very specifically, cover off the point from the Chair of the legislation and justice committee on the case study that they included, however. Very respectfully, Huw, I'm very sorry to say that we just don't agree that the legislation and justice committee's case study is an accurate representation of the position. Our position is very much that the provisions of the Bill are...
Julie James: 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. Given time restraints, unfortunately I just do not have time to go through all of them. As I said in my opening remarks, I don't have time to go through every recommendation, but we will write back to the committees and I will make sure that a comprehensive...
Julie James: Turning first to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, I note recommendation 1 from the committee to in due course publish a strategy for the reduction of plastic pollution in Wales. Our strategic direction for tackling plastics is already set out in our circular economy strategy, and our draft litter and fly-tipping prevention plan. A separate strategy is...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion. I'm very pleased to be here today to open this debate on the general principles of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill and to move the motion and the financial resolution. This Bill is an important first, necessary step in our journey to supporting global action to tackle plastic pollution. From reviewing the...
Julie James: Of course, we'd already introduced a range of measures, including changes to the upper limit for discretionary council tax premiums and second and long-term empty homes. The changes will have effect from 1 April next year and local authorities are able to consult now and then act on their decisions—I know that Gwynedd is already doing this—to make balanced choices about an appropriate...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. I would like to start by recording, also, my thanks to the Local Government and Housing Committee, particularly the Chair, for their in-depth and considered inquiry into the complex issue of second homes. On behalf of my Cabinet colleagues, I responded to the committee's report and recommendations, all of which we have accepted. We are, and were in many cases, putting those...
Julie James: Thanks, Jenny. I don't know the answer to the swift boxes, but I will ask now that you've asked a question. We did that, I can't quite remember, at least one season ago, so we should have some information about the effect. I will certainly ask. On the end-of-life fishing gear—you went to visit it as well, didn't you, in Swansea, Mike—we've done some trials, and I was really interested...
Julie James: Absolutely, Joyce. So, on the peatland programme, I was delighted to be able to announce, alongside Lesley, the acceleration of the peatland restoration project. The projects that I've visited already in Wales have been heart-warming, really, amazing in the dedication of the people doing them and actually in the transformation of the landscape. So, I was very, very delighted to do that. I am...
Julie James: Thank you, Darren. I was really delighted that we were able to listen to that and look at the way that the forestry licences are granted, so I really hope that that comes forward ASAP, myself, as well. In terms of connectivity, this was the topic of a long discussion at the deep-dive, because, you're absolutely right, for some protected species, for endangered species or whatever iconic...
Julie James: Yes, so we had various farmers groups involved in the deep-dive and in the stake—. So, there's a kind of hub-and-spoke thing; that's how we did it. We decided we couldn't have a constructive discussion with more than about 12 people in the core group, so we had a sort of hub-and-spoke model, so members of the core group also sat on the round-tables and stakeholder groups and fed that in. We...
Julie James: I have to say at this point, Huw, to you that there are some people who would say there were already wolves in Singleton park. [Laughter.]
Julie James: Yes, thank you, Carolyn. So, we had the water companies very much involved in our deep-dive and in our wider round-table, and our stakeholders. I personally have met with Ofwat—I always get the Ofs mixed up; Ofwat in this case—to talk about the new pricing structure, because for Dŵr Cymru in particular, not so much for Hafren Dyfrdwy, it's a not for profit, so we need to get the...
Julie James: And the wolves. It's really important to understand what the ecosystem you're looking at now looks like and what is currently controlling that. What is the substitute for the apex predator? It's more complicated, isn't it, than that, because there will be other methodologies. Things move into the space vacated by an apex predator, for example. But it's really interesting—watch the...
Julie James: Yes, thank you, Mike. On the apex predator point, I completely agree with that. I don't know if Members have seen the film of Yellowstone park and the reintroduction of the wolves. If you haven't watched that, watch it—just Google, 'Yellowstone park reintroduction of wolves'. And that's all they did. They had real biodegradation, they had overgrazing by all sorts—they had all kinds of...
Julie James: Yes, thank you, Delyth. I couldn't agree more; we all, obviously, need to play our part. Declaring the emergency is one thing; actually taking the very, very difficult actions that are required to make it happen is quite another. I'm afraid I have to say all the time to the Conservatives opposite that it's all very well to say that you have signed up to these things, but then to oppose every...
Julie James: Thank you, Janet. So, on the 30x30 and the targets put in law, I’ve said endlessly in this Chamber, and I’ll repeat it again: we expect COP15, which is now being held in December in Canada, and which I very much hope to attend, to set global targets. It’s extremely important that our targets meet those targets and exceed them. So, I’ve said all the way through, we absolutely intend to...
Julie James: Diolch, Llywydd. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is a leading threat to humanity. The natural environment underpins our well-being and economic prosperity, yet our relationship with it is completely unsustainable. To ensure future generations are able to enjoy our beautiful natural heritage, we need to accelerate the actions we are taking to halt the decline in biodiversity. Over...
