Lesley Griffiths: I think it's very important that we do enlarge the food processing sector that we have here. It's really important for the Welsh economy, as you say. I'd certainly be very happy to look in broad terms at what we can do in relation to that at Felindre.
Lesley Griffiths: It surprises me that you say that around diversification into tourism, because I think that is an area where we've seen some significant diversification. A lot of the applications we've had in relation to diversification lately have been in relation to energy, for instance—people would like to put maybe one windmill on their farm to make sure that they have energy. So, it surprises me that...
Lesley Griffiths: I haven't had any discussions with the two Ministers that you referred to in the past month or so of the new Government, but clearly, having been in the portfolio in the previous term, I've had those discussions about ensuring our rural areas get the funding that they require, because obviously rural areas do have different requirements and needs. You mentioned public transport, for instance;...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. The rural development programme continues to deliver across the whole of Wales, including in south-west Wales. Projects are being delivered that are benefitting our natural environment, businesses and rural communities throughout the country.
Lesley Griffiths: The Member will be aware of the significant work that was undertaken in the previous Senedd term around CCTV. We had a voluntary approach where we provided significant funding for the smaller slaughterhouses. All the larger slaughterhouses in Wales do have CCTV and they adhere to a protocol jointly developed and agreed with the Food Standards Agency. We provided funding for the smaller ones...
Lesley Griffiths: It is certainly the responsibility of the owner to ensure the health and welfare of the animal that they have in their keeping. We would expect people to absolutely recognise that and behave in the same way.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. No person may keep any dangerous wild animal, and that includes many primates, without first obtaining a licence from their local authority under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. As part of that, local authorities would, obviously, inspect premises and consider welfare requirements. We are working with Animal Welfare Network Wales to draft a new code of practice here in Wales...
Lesley Griffiths: I'm not able to give you a timeline for it. Obviously, it's in our programme for government, so it will be during this Senedd term, but it's something that I'm seeking to do at the first possible opportunity. I know it's something that you feel very passionately about, so I was very pleased it was in the programme for government. You'll be aware that we had plans around this in the White...
Lesley Griffiths: I absolutely agree with you—I firmly believe pets enhance family life, and we have certainly seen, unfortunately, an increase particularly in dog thefts over the past few years. It's a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968, which is, obviously, a reserved piece of legislation, and the maximum penalty is seven years' imprisonment. Officials right across the UK have been considering...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I think you raise a really important point, and I think many people will be grappling with this issue, perhaps as they go back to work, back to the office or back to their place of employment, because they bought the animal during the COVID pandemic. That change of company throughout the day could cause a big impact on the pet, but also on the owners as well. So, I think they need...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I'm not aware of the schemes—I think you said the south-east of England—but it's certainly something that I will ask officials to look at and to explore to see if there are any lessons we can learn.
Lesley Griffiths: Llywydd, I understand that you've given your permission for questions 4, 5 and 8 to be grouped. Animal health and welfare is a priority for the Welsh Government and for the Wales animal health and welfare framework group. The framework group, launched in 2014, sets out our 10-year overarching plan for making improvements in standards of animal health and welfare.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and, as you say, in May this year, unusually high numbers of sheep were reported to be roaming around towns in your constituency. People were obviously concerned about the possibility of accidents being caused, but, of course, for the welfare of the animals themselves, as you say. It's, I think, right to point out that anyone with concerns should contact Blaenau Gwent County...
Lesley Griffiths: We've not made an assessment of the impact of roaming farm animals on animal welfare. Animal owners and keepers have a legal duty to care for the animals for which they are responsible.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You will be aware that we maintained the basic payment scheme payments at the same level for 2021. If I receive the funding that we should receive from the UK Government, we will look to do it for 2022 also. As we develop the sustainable farming scheme that is set out in the White Paper and we bring forward the agricultural Bill, I've made it very clear that we won't introduce the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much. You raised several important points, with, I think, the first one around a young farmer being unable to either rent or purchase farmland or a farm. And I've done a significant amount of work with young farmers, along with Llyr Huws Gruffydd, when he was in your role, to ensure that they have the opportunity to start their own farm, or, if they can't buy one, then at least...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. And welcome to you to your opposition spokesperson's role, and I very much look forward to working with you too. We do continue to make very good progress in relation to our RDP programme delivery. More than £512 million has already been spent. As you say, there's a further £362 million to be spent over the next three years, and certainly I meet regularly with my officials who...
Lesley Griffiths: There are no plans to undertake a further review of the 2014-20 RDP. Officials have acknowledged the approach to testing value for money for a number of the historic RDP projects didn't represent best practice. So, I think there will not be a further review of that.
Lesley Griffiths: I think it was one of the rudest letters I've ever had the misfortune to receive, to be perfectly frank with you. I think what you say is incorrect around statistics. If you look at the trend that's certainly been occurring over the past, I think it's 33 months now, we have seen a decrease in the 12-month total of new herd incidents and we've had a 2 per cent decrease in new incidents in the...
Lesley Griffiths: Welcome to Samuel Kurtz on his appointment, and I look forward to you shadowing me. I think, regardless of what Rebecca says, I think this is a very exciting portfolio too and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It hasn't; we still have that policy. Clearly, we have had some issues with our seafood exports, particularly you'll be aware of the issues around live bivalve molluscs, and since we left the...
