Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, and croeso. One of the last things I did ahead of the election in my previous portfolio was launch a consultation around fly-tipping and littering. I absolutely agree with you—it's a dreadful thing that, unfortunately, we've seen an increase in, particularly over the last 12 months, and this Government has made it very clear that it has to be a green recovery as we come out of...
Lesley Griffiths: This issue is obviously being looked at by the new Minister and I will certainly ask her to bring a statement forward when she has all the relevant information.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Mike Hedges, and, obviously, I'm very well aware of the cross-party support that was there for the LCM. But, unfortunately, the UK Government proceeded with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, despite the lack of an opportunity for the Senedd to give consent, owing to the election, and it was during the pre-election period, when I did not think the LCM would be coming forward at...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch for that question and, clearly, child poverty and the mitigation of child poverty and all forms of poverty will continue to be a priority for this Welsh Labour Government. I will certainly speak with the Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, to see what plans she has in relation to tackling all forms of poverty as well as child poverty, and, when appropriate, I'm sure she will bring...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, Darren Millar, for your kind words and I look forward to working with you on the Business Committee. You raised two very important points, and I know that it's been a particularly difficult and worrying time for parents and families of babies who've required neonatal care. Obviously, health boards do have flexibility within the current guidelines around visiting and I'm sure that...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to today's agenda: the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language will make a statement on renew and reform: supporting learners' well-being and progression. Secondly, I have extended the length of the debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 to 30 minutes. Draft business for the...
Lesley Griffiths: Formally.
Lesley Griffiths: Formally.
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. In relation to the response from the Chair of the LJC committee, I will just confirm again that the necessary changes will be made to deal with the single remaining technical point at the next suitable opportunity. I'd like to thank Llyr Huws Griffiths for his very kind words. He's quite right, we haven't always seen eye to eye, but we've always dealt with each other, as he...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you. I move the motion. I'd like to thank the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for its scrutiny of this statutory instrument. Following feedback from the committee, the instrument has been amended and relaid, ensuring the majority of technical scrutiny points raised have been addressed. The necessary change to deal with the remaining technical point...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank Members for their support. I'd also like to thank everyone who has contributed to getting these regulations to this stage, and I'd like to begin with my officials in the office of the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, who have been well supported by other colleagues throughout Welsh Government to ensure that we were able to bring these regulations forward...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion. I would like to briefly explain the background to today's debate on the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021. Firstly, the Pet Animals Act 1951 section 1(1) will cease to have effect in relation to Wales and will be replaced by these regulations. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, the regulations make it...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Achieving the new targets will be a huge challenge, but the cost of action is far outweighed by the cost of inaction, and the new pathway effectively brings forward our existing 80 per cent target by 15 years to 2035. Janet Finch Saunders says there's a lack of ambition; well, I don't see that lack of ambition at all. I think this Welsh Government has...
Lesley Griffiths: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. In 2016, the Senedd legislated for Wales's first statutory emissions reduction target to cut emissions by at least 80 per cent in 2050. Just over two years ago, the Senedd legislated for three interim emissions targets and Wales's first two carbon budgets, which put us on track for 80 per cent. Since then, Wales became the first country in the world to...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I absolutely agree with you that everything needs to be addressed. Fortem Energy Services Ltd will work with my officials to contact each home that benefited from EWI under the Arbed scheme in the places that you just referred to. A home maintenance information leaflet will be reissued and, where necessary, the company will provide copies of the guarantee that covers the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. A meeting with Fortem Energy Services is scheduled for 15 March to finalise details for contacting 393 households fitted with external wall insulation under the Arbed scheme in Arfon. I set out the process for householders to resolve claims in my letter to you of 8 March.
Lesley Griffiths: I mentioned in my earlier answer to Mike Hedges that the regulations we'll be bringing forward in two weeks' time go beyond Lucy's law. I am really desperately trying to get away from that phrase, because we've done a huge amount of work with the local authorities. We've had the local authority dog enforcement project, which was a three-year Welsh Government-funded project covering all local...
Lesley Griffiths: The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021 will be debated on 23 March. I will not be making a statement prior to the debate.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, we don't need a specific zoo support scheme in Wales, because our zoos were able to access funding from the economic resilience fund, which, obviously, was unique to Wales. So, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the zoos applied for funding from the ERF and were obviously successful. So, whilst I appreciate other countries in the UK had a specific zoo support scheme, I think, if you...
Lesley Griffiths: I'm pleased Mike Hedges referred to Lucy's law, although I do keep saying that we are going beyond Lucy's law; it's the third-party sales of puppies and kittens, and we will be debating that in the Senedd in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, many of the policy development work streams within my portfolio in relation to animal health and welfare have had to take a lower priority over...
