Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I know this is something the Minister for Health and Social Services is working on and she will do a written statement when they've got to the conclusion that they want.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I've added debates on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 23) Regulations 2021 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 25) Regulations 2021 to today's agenda, along with the corresponding motion to suspend Standing Orders. Additionally, the debate on the legislative consent motion on...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. The Welsh Government supports the motion. The Welsh Government is fully committed to the principles of openness and transparency upon which the new agreement is based, and supporting the Senedd's scrutiny role. We take our obligations in relation to fulfilling our responsibilities under the agreement very seriously. We continue to update and report to the Senedd on our relations,...
Lesley Griffiths: Formally.
Lesley Griffiths: Built at the end of the fifteenth century, St Giles parish church in Wrexham is one of the wonders of Wales. Currently, it is home to the poignant Festival of Angels. The festival commemorates those who have lost their lives to coronavirus across Wales. Each of the 6,000 angels on display are handmade from various materials—paper, polystyrene, fabric, cardboard—some new, some recycled....
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I mentioned the local authority enforcement project—that's a three-year funding project that I have supported to make sure that local authorities are supported to respond to concerns in their areas. The animal welfare plan that I've brought forward for this five-year term of Government has been done in partnership, and we've listened to the concerns of local authorities and third...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In collaboration with the police, the Government-funded local authority enforcement project collates intelligence of anyone suspected of ear cropping for action by the relevant local authority. Additionally, the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill seeks to restrict the import of dogs and puppies that have been subject to mutilations, such as ear cropping.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You're quite right, agriculture and food production will always produce some greenhouse gases as a result of relying on natural processes, but we are continuing to meet the challenge of reducing those greenhouse gases from farming whilst maintaining high-quality food production. There's been a significant amount of Government support already for the sector in relation to this;...
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is working towards a net-zero agricultural supply chain that will benefit the rural and circular economy. Through both existing agricultural support schemes and the planned sustainable farming scheme, we are supporting the change to more eco-friendly and sustainable farming.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I think Joyce raises a very important point. We've got a really strong track record for raising the bar when it comes to farm animal welfare. You referred to sow stalls for pigs and veal crates for calves—they're banned—and battery cages for laying hens. We really want to continue to build on this, and that's why our programme for government includes a commitment to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Yes, I'd be very happy to meet with them, probably after the Petitions Committee has heard and viewed their petition and it's come forward, if it does indeed come forward, to the Welsh Government for consideration. I think it would be more appropriate to meet them after that. You will have heard my answer to Jane Dodds; obviously, I heard further information that I was unaware of,...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Welsh Government is committed to restricting the use of cages for farmed animals. We are working with other administrations to look at how and where they are used, and to what extent. We are also considering the welfare impacts of existing and alternative systems.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I'm sorry I was unable to join you on the steps of the Senedd last week, but thank you for arranging that event. As Jane Dodds and other Members know, the Petitions Committee currently has a live call to ban greyhound racing in Wales, and it's currently the intention of the Welsh Government to consider greyhound racing in Wales as part of a future licensing scheme, as set out...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Our collaboration with the Animal Welfare Network for Wales led to the publication of a voluntary code of best practice for animal welfare establishments in 2020. Building on this, our animal welfare plan commits to bringing forward regulatory requirements for animal welfare establishments, including rescue and rehoming centres, by 2023.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring high standards of welfare for all animals kept in Wales at all stages of their life, including at the point of slaughter. Our programme for government includes the commitment to require CCTV in all slaughterhouses during this Government term.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. On the possibility of compulsory CCTV, I've never ruled it out. I always thought it was something that we would bring in if the voluntary scheme didn't work in the way that we wanted it to. But I really wanted to work, and I want to continue to work, with slaughterhouse operators to ensure that we do get CCTV in all of the slaughterhouses. There are 24 slaughterhouses in Wales....
Lesley Griffiths: I think Janet Finch-Saunders raises a very important point, and we've seen an increase in pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, over the COVID-19 pandemic, which I think has fuelled the rise that we are seeing on social media. It's very hard, isn't it, when social media isn't regulated in the way that other parts of the sector are. On the issue around dog ear cropping, which I referred...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much. I can hear a dog joining in the oral answered questions today. You're quite right; we have had a significant outbreak of avian influenza across Great Britain. I mentioned in an earlier answer that we're now up to 52 incidents; we have three in Wales. We did bring in mandatory housing of birds at the end of last month. We are consistently assessing the impact. I know the...
Lesley Griffiths: As I mentioned in my earlier answer to Hefin David—in my tabled answer—we provide a range of support. The majority of our support—I'm just trying to think if any of it isn't—is available to tenant farmers just as much as landowners. So, I'm sure if they perhaps contact Farming Connect in the first instance, to make sure they are addressing all the business support that is available to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The recently published animal welfare plan sets out improvements to animal welfare in Wales. It focuses on high standards, the adoption and sharing of best practice, engagement with key stakeholders, the development of effective, supportive and sustainable mechanisms for enforcement, and through its dynamic promotion of responsible ownership.
