Lesley Griffiths: I thank the Member for that question. Professor Harris identified in his report that a large number of captive wild animals are being used in, as I say, corporate entertainment and in educational settings. To be honest, that area concerns me more, because I think that we don’t know the numbers that are being used or anything about their welfare. You will have seen the approach taken in...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, absolutely I do. The Act doesn’t sit within my portfolio—it sits within Rebecca Evans’s—but I’d be very happy to do some further work with Rebecca on that issue.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, absolutely, I recognise those concerns and you won’t be surprised that, in my portfolio, I get it from both sides. I think that is the absolute point: it’s about a balance between widening access and ensuring that we protect the environment also.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, that is obviously a very important piece of work and, at the moment, we are drawing together with local authorities the £150 million coastal-risk-management programme for that purpose.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, absolutely. Dr Lloyd makes a very important point there, I think. You’ll be aware that we had an assessment of the health benefits of walking on the Wales coastal path back in 2014, and that concluded the economic value associated with improved health through walking on the coastal path was £18.3 million back then. So, absolutely, we can fully appreciate that is the case. And, again,...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You’ll be aware we had a significant number of responses to the Green Paper—I think it was approaching 6,000, if I remember rightly—so it’s taking some time to have a look at all of them. But I did recently provide national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty with an additional just over £0.5 million so that they could look at their priority outdoor recreations....
Lesley Griffiths: I think part of that work was done, and one of the reasons why we’ve gone out to consultation is on the back of that. I really would urge the Member and all constituents who’ve got an interest in this to take part in the consultation, because I’m very interested to hear people’s views. If other Members or their constituents have views around different approaches they think we could...
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is keen to secure improvements in the opportunities available for people to access the outdoors. Full consideration of the range of issues raised by the earlier review is taking place but more work is needed before taking any decisions on potential new measures to increase access.
Lesley Griffiths: I don’t agree with that.
Lesley Griffiths: I’m not aware that there’s anything missing. But if the Member thinks there is specifically, if she’d like to write to me, I’ll certainly look into it.
Lesley Griffiths: I am currently consulting on the review of the designated areas and action programme to tackle nitrate pollution in Wales and, subject to the outcome of the consultation, I intend to introduce new legislation next year. A full regulatory impact assessment will be produced at that time.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, this has been a significant piece of work. I know my officials have been working very closely with the livestock identification advisory group on the proposals for the quarantine units and we do continue to work with our stakeholders on the delivery of the project. I think what the new arrangements will do is simplify the standstill regime by replacing complex exemptions for isolation...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Biosecurity is our first line of defence against serious notifiable infectious diseases like foot and mouth disease or bovine TB. It should be a vital part of daily farming life, helping to ensure that animals stay healthy and that businesses remain profitable.
Lesley Griffiths: It is.
Lesley Griffiths: I can say that, yes, I am responsible for planning. Certainly, in my discussions with farmers, they haven’t raised too many concerns about TAN 6. In fact, they are very grateful and happy that it’s there. But I think that consistency is absolutely correct, and obviously we have 25 planning authorities across Wales and, with anything like that, I think you always get a level of...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, it does seem that we can’t win. Last term, we were criticised for having too big a document for our programme for government and this time we’re criticised for it being too thin. Perhaps next time the Welsh Labour Government will have the absolute perfect one. I think that you do raise an important issue around Paris, and I will be representing Wales at the COP22 in Marrakech next...
Lesley Griffiths: We have been absolutely clear about our commitment to provide support to deliver successful and sustainable rural communities across Wales. We co-finance our rural development programme with the European Union and so expect the UK Government to provide an unconditional guarantee to fund all projects contracted under the programme for their lifetime.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, not everything is in the programme for government, I should say that, but absolutely that target still stands. But it is incredibly challenging, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that. In relation to the carbon budget, I’m currently meeting all my Cabinet colleagues to discuss how, across Government, each of their portfolios is helping to reduce our emissions. The carbon budgeting process...
Lesley Griffiths: I can certainly confirm that the 40 per cent reduction target by 2020 still stands absolutely for this Government also. I’m looking at the implementation of the environment Act going forward, but, again I don’t have that date to hand, but I’d be very happy to let you know.
Lesley Griffiths: I don’t have that information to hand but I’m happy to write to the Member with that information.
