Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You're quite right, it's a very popular hobby for many people, and one of the things that we're doing to support it is obviously trying to improve the quality of our rivers, going forward. As you know, Natural Resources Wales do have a duty to maintain, to improve and develop inland and migratory fisheries. So, obviously, we support Natural Resources Wales, and the Minister for...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I'll be very happy to work with the organisation, if they would like to write to me, to seek a meeting. I'm very well aware of the urgency required in relation to the curlew, having obviously been responsible in the previous term of Government. So, if you have a contact there, please do ask them to write to me, or if they hear this, and I will be very happy to meet with them.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. We are developing the fishing sector in a variety of ways, including the introduction of a financial assistance scheme. I laid a statutory instrument yesterday to establish this. We provide ongoing support for the development of new markets, both domestic and internationally, and are committed to implementing the joint fisheries statement.
Lesley Griffiths: Animal health and welfare has clear links across Government, including public health, climate change, economy, and biodiversity. I frequently discuss these cross-cutting areas with Cabinet colleagues. Statements have been issued on our animal welfare plan for Wales and TB strategy, and I have held further discussions on border controls. Ukrainian pet travel has also been an important point of...
Lesley Griffiths: The cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact on household finances. Low-income households have been struggling with the affordability of pet care. We are working in partnership with the Animal Welfare Network for Wales and the Companion Animal Welfare Group Wales to develop advice and promote solutions.
Lesley Griffiths: I thank Joyce Watson for those comments. This is a culmination of years of work. I don't think we should underestimate the number of years we've tried to work with snare users to reduce harm and improve welfare. But, as you say, snares are indiscriminate with regard to the animals they capture. They can capture badgers, they can capture otters, dogs, cats, and they are inherently inhumane for...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you much and I look forward to working with you as well, across the Chamber, on this Bill. I think it’s really important that we all do work together, because none of us have all the ideas, so it’s great when we can come together and work for a common aim. In relation to food production, I’ll go back to what I was saying before, and the phrase I was trying to think of was 'public...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you and thank you for your comments. Access to the countryside has just come back into my portfolio. It was with me previously, and it’s an area that I’m looking forward to having some discussions on, to see how again we can—. Going back to what James Evans was saying, this Bill will have the powers to help us with that, so those are conversations that I haven’t had as yet, but...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. So, I think this is a framework Bill and I think it certainly supports those. Obviously, we’ve got specific schemes and initiatives around ending sheep scab and TB. I’m pleased with the progress we’re making on TB, but of course, we have those sort of hotspots that we really need to get to grips with, and I was very pleased we had the event at the Pembrokeshire show—which I...
Lesley Griffiths: So, I haven't seen the detail of the announcement that came from DEFRA yesterday. I can't say I was surprised. Obviously, there has been a new Secretary of State; I think we can see a change in direction also with the Liz Truss Government. I think it's fair to say—I don't think I'm being unfair here—that they were the first out of the trap, really, with their ELMs and they were having...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, and again I look forward to working with you closely taking this Bill forward. I'm going to start with your last bit around funding. You asked when you'll be able to scrutinise the funding elements of it. We're doing some economic analysis and modelling. That will be done for the rest of the course of this year and probably into early next year, so I would imagine it will be around...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much. I know you will absolutely play your part in taking this Bill forward. As I said, it's just the start of probably nearly a year process of taking the Bill through the Senedd, and I'm grateful for your supportive comments and the discussions that we've had previously. I think it is fair to say that we've had three consultations going back to—I'm trying to think...
Lesley Griffiths: At the heart of the Bill lies the sustainable land management objectives, and the duty placed on the Welsh Ministers. This is embedded in four objectives that work to support the economic, environmental and social sustainability of our agricultural sector here in Wales. The objectives are: to produce foods and other goods in a sustainable manner; to mitigate and adapt to climate change; to...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. Today, I am very pleased to introduce the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, together with its supporting documentation. The Bill is the result of years of policy work, co-design, consultation and stakeholder engagement. The result is an ambitious and transformational piece of legislation that reforms decades of EU farming support, heralding a significant change in how we support the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. So, you will have heard my answer to Ken Skates, and I think the Minister for Economy does need the time to engage with the UK Government. I think it's really important that any future proposals for Wales would need to be carefully researched. I know the Minister would want to consult upon those. And they really need to work in the best interests of the people of Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: Again, I absolutely agree with you. I think to borrow to give the rich tax cuts is not a policy that most people would think was very sensible, and clearly there are many concerns that you can see right across the markets, and the international markets too just really have lost confidence and trust in the UK Government. I will certainly ask the Minister for Economy to bring forward a...
Lesley Griffiths: I think it's probably too early to bring forward a statement on that. I know one of the issues, and certainly within my own constituency—it's something that's been raised with me—is the lack of planning officers within our local authorities right across Wales. I think this is something that, obviously, the Minister is aware of and discusses with local government colleagues.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In regard to your first point around the consequences that we were never told about in relation to leaving the European Union, I'm not sure which Minister would take that forward, but I will certainly make some inquiries to see if maybe some guidance could be issued from us, or whether it would be something we would have to urge the UK Government to do. In relation to your question...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I agree with the First Minister and you: I think that the mini budget was nothing short of a disgrace. It rewarded the rich and punished the poor. As you are aware, the Minister for Finance and Local Government will be making a statement this afternoon in relation to the financial statement that came from the UK Government last week. In relation to your specific questions around...
Lesley Griffiths: In relation to your second question, I think you'd be better off writing directly to the Minister for Economy, and then he can look into that specific case that you brought forward. I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister for Climate Change to issue a written statement if he has any information that would be helpful in relation to the incident you referred to at the weekend.
