Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. So, I absolutely agree with you—the agricultural sector, and certainly farmers themselves, would say they are part of the solution to the climate emergency and contribute a significant amount to ensuring that happens. You will be aware I recently made a statement around our proposed sustainable farm scheme, and I will certainly update at the most appropriate time. In relation to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In relation to your first call, for a statement on the UK Government's Environment Bill, as you say, we've got a further—well, this is a supplementary—LCM this afternoon. This is about an amendment that we had asked for; the UK Government told us it wasn't possible, and then, right at the last minute, they've now put that amendment forward. In relation to your second point,...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. You're quite right; I have had several constituents contact me around this issue, and I know the Minister for Social Justice has been working with UK Government Ministers to make sure that they understand Welsh Government's concerns. I will certainly ask the Minister for Social Justice if she can update Members, if there is indeed anything to update us on, ahead of the protest on Friday.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, you've clearly been in correspondence with the Minister for Health and Social Services. I would think it's more appropriate for you to continue to do that rather than to have a statement.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business: the order of the statements by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language and the Minister for Economy has been reversed, and I've scheduled a debate on a supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Environment Bill, subject to the Senedd agreeing a suspension of Standing Orders. Draft business for the next three weeks...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you very much, Sam Kurtz, for choosing such a fantastic topic for your first short debate. I'd like to thank other Members for their contributions too. Through their activities, Wales's young farmers clubs provide unique opportunities for young people to develop their ambitions, their skills and their confidence, and these behaviours we know are absolutely invaluable as...
Lesley Griffiths: No, thank you.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for the opportunity to introduce the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) (No. 3) Regulations 2021. I move the motion. These regulations are made using the made affirmative procedure under powers conferred on Welsh Ministers by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. They were laid before the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language did issue a written statement just last week, on Thursday 14 October, outlining the latest safety measures in place across education settings in Wales.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Well, the funding of social care is something that's on the top of the majority of governments' agendas, and it's something that we are are certainly looking at, as a Government. I would not agree with you around the way that the UK Government have funded it. We don't think that is the right way of doing it, but it is something that we have to look at very carefully. As you will be...
Lesley Griffiths: Welsh Government has always made it very clear that our priority, when it comes to flooding policy, flooding management, flooding funding, is to protect as many lives as possible and as many homes as possible, and then businesses come within that criteria. Having been responsible for flooding in the previous term of Government, I know our flooding policy is as up to date as it can be, but it...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, as you rightly point out, this is an ongoing piece of work at the current time. It would be wrong to pre-empt any recommendations that come to the Minister. But obviously, as that process goes through, she will update Members at the most appropriate time.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. In relation to your second point, around co-operative housing, I'm very aware, as I'm sure the Member is, that the Minister for Climate Change, who has responsibility for housing, very much wants a co-operative housing focus. I know she absolutely thinks that co-operative principles should be a priority, and the focus has to be, in relation to the housing sector, on embedding those...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I'm not familiar with the story that you refer to, but I certainly do think there has been a culture change—and it's a health board I know very well myself—since, as you say, the monitoring of special measures, et cetera. And the Minister for Health and Social Services regularly updates Members in relation to how that monitoring is now going ahead. If she has had any contact...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's Plenary business. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers, available to Members electronically.
Lesley Griffiths: We no longer have bespoke designated nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales, as you're aware, and on 27 January this year, I introduced the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution)(Wales) Regulations 2021, and as you know, those initial measures came into force on 1 April. Those regulations revoked and replaced the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013, which...
Lesley Griffiths: The designation of nitrate vulnerable zones was a requirement of the EU nitrates directive, and the effectiveness of the NVZ designation was assessed as part of our commitment. Natural Resources Wales review NVZ designation on a regular basis to determine areas for new designation, continued designation or de-designation.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I don't think that would be a decision for the north Wales Cabinet sub-committee. Obviously, the cover of emergency services across north Wales has to be appropriate at all times. You just mentioned two significant incidents that happened at the same time and, of course, while they're going on, there are always other incidents where our emergency services are being called to attend....
Lesley Griffiths: The Cabinet committee on north Wales discusses a wide range of important topics. The first meeting of this Senedd term included a discussion on the pressures faced by health and social care partners, involving the chief executive of the health board, chief executive of NHS Wales and all local authority leaders.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I am aware that you wrote to me last week again, I think about the same farmer. I will ensure you get a response by next week. Animal owners are paid compensation, as you know, and it is really important that we strive to ensure that the payment policy is fair not just to the animal owner, or to the farmer in this instance, but also to the taxpayer, because obviously that is...
