Lesley Griffiths: There are no plans for a statement in the current half term in relation to the capital programme for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. I know the health board itself is having a look at its capital programme right across north Wales, so I would imagine that would be part of it.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Lesley Griffiths: You obviously raise a very specific and local issue. I do think it would be better for you to write directly to the Minister.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In relation to your last point, I'm not sure of the progress there, but I will certainly ask the relevant Minister to write to you if there has been progress in relation to that policy. I think you highlight—. MND is such a cruel condition; I think it's one of the cruellest conditions that people have to live with, and it's really good that you highlighted that with the event...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Public transport is very important for many of our constituents, and I know we all get a great deal of casework in relation to public transport, particularly bus services, because that's the form of travel that's most used by constituents. The Deputy Minister for Climate Change meets regularly with, obviously, partners, including local authorities, in relation to the provision of...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. As you referred to, the First Minister gave a very detailed answer to Natasha Asghar around e-cigarette use. And you're quite right in highlighting the concerns we have, particularly with young people using those e-cigarettes. I think the First Minister did reference our new tobacco strategy, 'A Smoke-free Wales'; that was published back in July, so it's probably a bit soon for the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, I've received a letter from the Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and the RSPCA setting out their revised policy on greyhound racing, and stating they would welcome the opportunity to meet with me, and I'll certainly be very happy to meet with them to discuss the policy. As you know, I agree with you; a lot of the greyhound racing is very, very cruel. I'm surprised you didn't mention...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I certainly join with you in celebrating our libraries right across Wales. They should be very much treasured, I think, and continue to be very well used. And as you say, they provide so much more than they used to when—I was going to say 'when we were young', but certainly when I was young and it was just books, and they obviously do so much and are very, very valued in our...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. There are three changes to this week's business. The statement on regional economic development has been extended to 45 minutes. Later this afternoon, the Minister for Climate Change will make a statement on biodiversity, and tomorrow, questions to the Senedd Commission have been reduced to 10 minutes. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to update Members on the business statement. It's my intention to amend the oral question schedule on next week's business statement, so that questions to the Minister for Economy will be pushed back from 12 October to 19 October, and questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language brought forward from 19 October to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, the First Minister issued a written statement on 1 August, and that really set out a detailed programme of work and actions agreed at the summit he held at the Royal Welsh Show in July to tackle phosphorus pollution in Wales's special areas of conservation rivers. There is no single measure, I think, that will solve this crisis. There’s no quick fix and I think what the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The assessment of water quality and the impacts of pollution, including from agricultural sources, is carried out by Natural Resources Wales to support the delivery of regulatory requirements, development of river basin management plans and to identify potential interventions where improvements are required.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, what we normally do when we have such events—and I appreciate that this is the first time we've had anything like this—is that we would set a target. So, for instance, when we have Blas Cymru, I set a target of what new business, mainly, comes from Blas Cymru. So, obviously, this will be a smaller event for us—whilst I appreciate it's a massive global event—for us, I...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Welsh Government food division is working with our international offices and sports division to showcase the best of Welsh food and drink at two key events—a Welsh themed business network VIP dinner on 25 October, and a wider cultural event on 21 November. Both will be hosted by the ambassador to Qatar.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, certainly, with avian influenza, we've had a really difficult year. It normally starts about October and by March we see some improvement, but, unfortunately, last week alone I think we had three new cases across the UK. So, we haven't had any break at all. So, you're quite right to raise avian influenza. As I say, we wouldn't do anything without consulting with our...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. So, we are working with other administrations—you mentioned the UK and Scottish Governments—to look at how and where cages are used, alongside the welfare impacts of existing and whether there are alternative systems also. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2007 set down detailed conditions in which farmed animals must be kept, and we also have a code of practice...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We have committed to restrict the use of cages for farmed animals. We are working collaboratively with other administrations to examine the use of enriched cages for laying hens, farrowing crates for pigs, and breeding cages for game birds.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes. Thank you. You're quite right: local authorities do have the power to ban the practice of giving animals as prizes on their land. I'm not quite sure how many you thought out of the 22. I think it's five; I'm not quite sure if you said nine, but my understanding is it's five at the moment, but it may have increased and you may be correct. As I say, I have asked the Wales animal health and...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on owners and keepers to meet their animals' welfare needs. I've asked the Wales animal health and welfare framework group to give me a view on giving animals, specifically goldfish, as prizes.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In relation to the last point of your question, I said in my earlier answer to Sam Rowlands that I think it is absolutely vital the UK Government recognise that this needs to align with our policies around fair work and social partnership, so I hope that reassures you. I did have a conversation with the leader of Anglesey council at the Anglesey show, around the opportunities that...
