Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome today's debate as an opportunity to discuss what, it seems, are shared ambitions for the woodlands of Wales. The Welsh Government has accepted all but one of the recommendations, and I'm making sure that we are starting to act on them. The committee chair has written to me, asking for some clarification on the Government's response, but I felt it...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. You can tell I'm still a novice as I wasn't ready for that then. I'd like to thank all the Members for their contributions today and I welcome the consensus on this issue and I think that consensus recognises how important an issue it is for us all to tackle, and it's one that should be approached collaboratively and collectively. Simon Thomas was right...
Hannah Blythyn: Today, we do have cleaner air in Wales than in decades past, but as always, we know there is more for us to do. My aim is for us to be a leader in delivering innovative and effective solutions to tackle air pollution, achieving clean air for all. I'm therefore taking immediate action, through a comprehensive cross-Government programme of work, to improve air quality in Wales. This will...
Hannah Blythyn: Diolch, Llywydd. Improving air quality is a key priority in the Welsh Government's national strategy, 'Prosperity for All', and it is likewise a key portfolio priority for me. Taking steps to improve our air quality contributes significantly to the majority of the well-being goals in our future generations legislation and I'm firmly committed to taking forward action in this area. The need...
Hannah Blythyn: Thanks for the question. I'm under no illusions that I should just make the most of the warm words of congratulations until we move on to real business in the Chamber. It really is a very important area, and really important that we are able to sustain that going forward. I'm sure the Member appreciates that, being new to the portfolio, I'm still in discussions on how we take that forward...
Hannah Blythyn: The Welsh Government is committed to bringing all peatlands supporting semi-natural habitats into sustainable management by 2020 and has established an integrated programme of delivery to ensure this target is met. The current programme is improving the condition of our peatlands, and we have secured funding for further action.
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, and thank you again for joining in with the congratulations. Can I thank Mike Hedges for his interest in this aspect of Welsh Government work? The Welsh Government is committed to bringing all peatlands support and semi-natural habitats into sustainable management by 2020, and has established an integrated programme of delivery to ensure this target is met. We have strong evidence...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you again for your congratulations. Just to point out: I am the Minister, not the Cabinet Secretary. I don't want to upset my colleague at this early stage. Children and individuals are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution, and so local authorities do need to take a risk-based approach in looking at how we monitor the situation. But absolutely, I think we need to,...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Suzy. Thank you for your question and thank you for your warm words of congratulations. I have had a brief—I am familiar with the Nowcaster system. You raised some very valid points there, and I think if you want to follow it up now with a letter to me—. And I think, going forward, as I said, I'm really keen to get this high on the agenda and making sure we work across...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Dai Rees, for your question. You're absolutely right that we need to look at cross-government, cross-departmental working on this, and I'm sure I will speak to my Cabinet Secretary colleague on how we can actually go forward with this, not just across Government in terms of planning, but also transport, health and local government.
Hannah Blythyn: May I thank the Member for his question? You're absolutely right to raise this important issue, and it's something that will be high on my agenda going forward in this portfolio. We know that historically Port Talbot has a high level of PM10 pollution, and this is generally, obviously, attributed to the industrial nature of the area. I know that Welsh Government officials regularly meet with...
Hannah Blythyn: Average levels of air pollution across Wales, including in south-west Wales, have improved over recent decades, but we still face significant challenges. We must do more to improve air quality in all regions and I have tabled a debate in December to discuss plans for cross-government action.
Hannah Blythyn: Absolutely, and, as I said to Members in previous questions, Natural Resources Wales will monitor that, and I will expect them to keep us updated, and I expect Members to also do the same as well.
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you to the Member for Cardiff North for her question. I know that you work very diligently day in, day out on behalf of your constituents, and I am sure you will monitor this situation, as I will be doing too. After the harvesting has taken place, NRW will encourage native species such as beech, oak, birch, wild cherry, rowan and hazel in the forest to naturally regenerate. But it...
Hannah Blythyn: Responsibility for the Welsh Government woodland estate rests with Natural Resources Wales. I'm aware that larch trees infected by phytophthora ramorum are being felled at Fforest Fawr and Natural Resources Wales is managing this essential work. P.ramorum is the most serious tree disease problem to have affected forests in Wales.
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you for your question. I'm aware that there is a campaign and that a petition has been launched. Natural Resources Wales are monitoring the situation and trying to go for the best option, which is natural regeneration. But, if this doesn't happen, they will look at other ways of restocking the tree population at Fforest Fawr.
Hannah Blythyn: Through the Collections Blueprint the Welsh Government has advised restricting residual waste can help improve recycling rates and reduce financial costs. The design and delivery of local services, including refuse collections, is a matter for individual Local Authorities.
Hannah Blythyn: Quality green spaces and parks provide opportunities for healthy recreation, support biodiversity and contribute to reducing flood risk and air pollution. The Welsh Government directly supports environmental priorities identified by Torfaen County Borough Council with £1.6 million this year from our Environment Single Revenue Grant.
Hannah Blythyn: Rwyf wedi comisiynu astudiaeth i asesu dichonoldeb cynllun Cyfrifoldeb Estynedig Cynhyrchwyr ar gyfer deunydd pecynnu bwyd a diod, gan gynnwys plastig tafladwy. Rydym hefyd yn edrych ar yr opsiynau ar gyfer treth neu ardoll ar blasting tafladwy ac rydym wedi dyrannu 500 mil o bunnoedd er mwyn rhoi prawf ar ddichonoldeb Cynlluniau Dychwelyd Ernes.
Hannah Blythyn: The Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on snares places the welfare of animals at its core. The Code is actively promoted and its effectiveness is reviewed regularly. The ‘Taking Forward Wales’ Sustainable Management of Natural Resources’ consultation, which closed in September, included proposals on snares. My officials are evaluating responses.
