Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member and I'm glad that you received the letter following your question in business questions in Plenary last week and I hope that helped update you on where we are. As I said to the Member previously, I'm unable to comment on the intention of the developer to start operating the plant by the end of the year, but the Vale of Glamorgan planning department are aware that we are...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his contribution there. I'd refer back to what I said to the constituency Member in terms of time frame. I do understand why this is causing so much concern and frustration, both for representatives and for people in the local community. But we are actively currently considering the representation made, and we do not intend to set a deadline for the final decision on...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her question. I know it's something that she's raised over a number of years, and regularly with me since coming into post. I fully understand the frustration of both the Member and the residents of Barry with the time it's taken to reach a final decision on whether an EIA is required for the Biomass UK No. 2 project. The time is unfortunately necessary as matters...
Hannah Blythyn: I want to ensure our actions as a Government uphold our international obligations in respect of environmental impact assessments. Officials are giving careful consideration to compliance with the EIA directive, taking account of the representations of the developer and those of the Docks Incinerator Action Group and others.
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his question. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the staff survey; that’s a matter for NRW. We've had a new chief executive who has come into place recently, and I've had regular meetings with NRW. In terms of working with the local community and stakeholders, I have had meetings previously with NRW when we have discussed communication and the need to...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her follow-up question. In terms of the Llanmaes flood alleviation scheme, design work is continuing and expected to be completed later this year, with construction to commence shortly after. Improvements to drainage in the village to increase capacity and a series of small flood storage areas above the village—. Property-level protection is offered to properties at...
Hannah Blythyn: Over the life of this Government, we have invested over £5.7 million in flood and coastal works in the Vale of Glamorgan. In addition, over £4.5 million has been allocated in this year's programme to complete works at Boverton and Coldbrook and progress the Llanmaes, Cadoxton and Corntown schemes.
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for his final question? We have an inter-governmental agreement in place on this, and this is something that we will be further pressing the case on, in terms of protecting the legislation that we have in place and that we are proud to have led the way on and have in place in Wales, in our quadrilateral on Monday.
Hannah Blythyn: I'm glad you've finished having an argument with the former Minister and have turned your question to me now. It will not surprise you to hear me say that I fundamentally disagree with the assertions you just made there. However, we do have a quadrilateral coming up on Monday, which the Cabinet Secretary and myself will be attending, and this is something that will be high on the agenda at...
Hannah Blythyn: The Member makes a very important point in terms of upholding our strong environmental principles in Wales. This has been the subject of a number of deep dives and quadrilaterals amongst Ministers, the Cabinet Secretary and officials. We have repeatedly made the case for new institutional arrangements and agreed frameworks to ensure that the UK can function effectively after our exit from the...
Hannah Blythyn: The Member makes a really important point there, in terms of actually how this—and I've raised this before, in talking about how we tackle air quality—is a priority across Government, which is why I am working with the economy Secretary—sorry I can't get my words out—to look at actually how we use those levers at our disposal, to not only support the economic future, the...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for his question? Absolutely right that Natural Resources Wales regulates the Port Talbot steelworks, in accordance with the permit issued under the environmental permitting regime. You'll be aware that that permit imposes conditions on the operator. But actually, in terms of looking, when we update the action plan, at how we can make sure we best monitor and enforce...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her question. Yes, Port Talbot did make the headlines last week, after the World Health Organization produced their findings. But, since publishing these findings, the WHO have actually reviewed the air pollution figures and accepted that a mistake has been made in the data it used, and it has apologised to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council as well. And the WHO...
Hannah Blythyn: I recently announced a range of measures to improve our air quality, including the development of a clean air plan for Wales, which will define actions to reduce air pollution in Wales, and a consultation on a clean air zone framework for Wales, and a new air quality in Wales website.
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her questions and her observations as well. I think that's really interesting what you said, although anecdotally—that when people were given the option, they choose to have the environmentally friendly alternative. I'll join you in congratulating Harlech as well, and well done on that chip shop in Cardigan. Maybe I might regret saying I'm going to visit all of these...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for her contribution there, and I think you're right to raise—. You raise some really interesting points that we'll take away in terms of water fountains and our approach to that. And also, actually, I think, what I said before, we'll retain that flexibility—look at and explore the potential of DRS or single-use plastic tax at a UK level, because we know that that's...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his very illuminating and entertaining contribution then, taking us down memory lane as well. I'm not sure whether the reason you're committed to us bringing DRS in is so you can actually have a sideline of collecting all the bottles, or encouraging the nation's youth to that. I think you're absolutely right to say, 'Look at where we've come from.' So, I think our...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his contributions. [Inaudible.] talking about the Refill nation proposals and the use of water fountains. I think you're right to raise that the issue of water fountains brings with it some complexity in terms of maintenance and upkeep and also issues around maintenance in terms of hygiene, as well. Although there are existing water fountains in a number of places, some...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for his numerous contributions? He makes a number of really important points. You actually started off by mentioning The Ship Inn in Aberporth. I managed to stay there when I went to the launch of the New Quay plastic-free community as well. And it was brilliant to go Natural Weigh last week to have a look at what they've learned from others elsewhere, and now they're...
Hannah Blythyn: I don't know if I can take the questions on the Assembly estate now. I welcome—
