Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Obviously, the First Minister, straight after this item, will be leading a statement on our programme for government, and it does reflect our manifesto promise to ensure that estate charges for public open spaces and facilities are paid for in a way that is fair. You, I think, point out quite rightly there's a great deal of information out there now, and I know the UK Government...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I will start with your second question first, and I know that it, obviously, is deeply personal to you, but they were, I thought, incredibly harrowing scenes on Saturday. I thought we saw far too much than we should have done on Saturday evening, but you make a really important point about a 29-year-old man’s life being saved because of the quick thinking of many people—the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I certainly would like to, first, congratulate Cardiff in attaining a silver Sustainable Food Places award. What I really like about this scheme is that it shares the same values as the well-being of future generations Act in embedding those sustainability values and ways of working. They're very much central to our development of a food strategy for Wales, going forward. Local...
Lesley Griffiths: The Member raises a very specific concern. The Minister for Climate Change does have oral questions tomorrow, so, if there is a suitable opportunity, I think it would be best to raise it in her question session tomorrow.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I, too, would like to join Jack Sargeant in wishing our national men's team well in their match against Turkey tomorrow and to send our thoughts and best wishes to Christian Eriksen. It was certainly very, very disturbing, what we saw on Saturday evening. In relation to your specific request around funding access to student finance for people who are studying a PGCE, under the...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. I would certainly join you in thanking your constituent for speaking out. I think it's really important that, as Ministers and Members of the Senedd, we hear about people's experiences. The issue around providing the right care in the right place is really important and, obviously, you mentioned the issue around the Welsh language issues that your constituent faced with going over...
Lesley Griffiths: [Inaudible.]—look at that as part of our planning for the autumn term.
Lesley Griffiths: I'm sure we all agree that bullying or any form of discrimination is completely unacceptable, and I know the Minister for Health and Social Services is taking this very seriously and will be discussing these issues with the health boards in her regular meeting with the chairs and the chief executive. I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch the second part of the question.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Mark Isherwood that I believe we all agree that individuals with a learning disability have the right to lead fulfilling, independent lives as close to home as possible. Sometimes, obviously, specialised care is required, and we know that should be safe, effective and high quality, and absolutely focused on supporting the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. As the Minister then responsible, I was certainly very pleased to launch the clean air plan last August in Castle Street in Cardiff. Obviously, any funding that is given from Welsh Government to local authorities in relation to clean air or any other matter is closely monitored, and I will make sure the Minister has heard your question and writes to you specifically about the point...
Lesley Griffiths: I think we would all agree that children and young people with learning disabilities should be educated and cared for as close to home as possible. I'm sure the Minister for education is aware of the report, will be looking at what the recommendations are and will bring forward further information at the most appropriate time.FootnoteLink
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. I'm certainly old enough to remember the planting of trees in 1973 and 1974. You may be aware, Mike Hedges, that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is going to be leading a deep-dive exercise into how we can increase tree planting. Clearly, I'm sure he'll be very interested in your suggestion. We've also begun to create the national forest, which was one of the First Minister's...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Luke Fletcher, for that. Absolutely, I agree with you that all aspects of public transport—as you say, it's not just the buses or the trains, it is the infrastructure around there—should be accessible. I am unclear whether there is a piece of work being done to look into that, but I will certainly mention it to the Minister with responsibility.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Darren Millar. As you say, it's a very exciting opportunity for small towns, and it's good to hear that there are groups of volunteers in your own constituency who are looking to put forward a bid in relation to the city of culture. I will certainly ensure that any guidance or information that we are able to give to interested groups is given out. In relation to your second point,...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I've added two statements to this week's business. Today, the First Minister will make a statement on the programme for government, and tomorrow, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change will make a statement on climate change. Finally, tomorrow's short debate has been postponed until next week. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and...
Lesley Griffiths: As a Government, we support the ambition of Welsh farmers to be the most climate and nature-friendly in the world, an ambition that will be given greater impetus by addressing the damage being caused by widespread agricultural pollution year after year. I fully recognise that many are farming to high environmental standards, but we must make more rapid progress on reducing pollution from...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Farming in Wales has a reputation with consumers for high production standards in relation to both animal welfare and protecting the environment. As the vast majority of land in Wales is managed by the agricultural sector, Wales's farmers play a vital role in safeguarding our shared natural heritage.
Lesley Griffiths: Formally.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Again, you will have heard the announcement the First Minister made last Friday in relation to outdoor events, and this is certainly one of the sectors that we have supported over the last 15 months. In relation to agricultural shows, obviously that sits within my portfolio, and so I'm very well aware of the decisions taken by the Pembrokeshire society. Again, I commissioned a...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch. You may have heard the First Minister say that the Minister for Climate Change, who will be the Minister with responsibility for this area, will obviously make a statement following the consultation. Usually the first process, after a consultation of this kind, is to publish the responses, and I am sure the Minister for Climate Change will do that.
