Lesley Griffiths: ...of why our continued work and investment in this area remains vital. As a result of that storm, over 270 properties across Wales were flooded, with further damage across the country to homes, schools, roads and shops—the things we all depend upon and often take for granted in our daily lives. Such events serve as a reminder of why we need to be prepared, why it's important we are all...
Lesley Griffiths: ...to see additional bureaucracy. Janet Finch-Saunders, in her original question, said that the funding difference was £607 per pupil; that is simply not true. How much an authority sets aside for school budgets is a matter for each authority. And then the schools obviously work with the local authorities to ensure that they have the budget that they require.
Lesley Griffiths: .... The second thing to remind you of is that no local authority in Wales will face a reduction of more than 0.3 per cent in their core funding for 2019-20. So Conwy council's decision to cut the education budget by 3 per cent is a matter for Conwy council. Welsh Government provides funding to local authorities through the local government revenue settlement and it is up to—[Interruption.]...
Lesley Griffiths: Educational funding remains a key priority for this Government, in spite of continued austerity. Working with our partners, the budget reflects our desire to raise standards for all, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and confidence.
Lesley Griffiths: As I said, it's a 188 per cent increase in the funding for next year. I'm sure the Member's aware of the snapshot inquiry that was undertaken by the Children, Young People and Education Committee under the chairmanship of Lynne Neagle, and that report came forward with many recommendations that Welsh Government have taken on board. I mentioned the interim youth work board that has been set...
Lesley Griffiths: ...empty homes through property improvement grants—that has the potential to bring about 1,000 homes back into use. And he's also looking at how we can learn from the twenty-first century schools model of funding. So, again, we can apply that approach to examples of good practice across the Valleys. I know the Minister has also spoken to the Deputy Minister about the need to ensure that the...
Lesley Griffiths: ...I think the three projects I mentioned would offer significant career opportunities to young people. However, we are committed to supporting our young people across Wales to enter employment, education, and training opportunities. You mentioned it's National Apprenticeship Week this week. Obviously, we have our 100,000 target of apprentices this Assembly term, and we're well on track with...
Lesley Griffiths: ...in some ways, there's more public interest in mobile animal exhibits than in circuses, because we don't have any circuses registered in Wales. And, as you say, we've all been to agricultural shows. Schools, for instance, often have birds of prey, and so I do think it is something of public interest, and, certainly, when we had the consultation, there was a high number of responses in...
Lesley Griffiths: .... Everyone should live in a decent home. Decent homes create decent communities in which everyone can play a part. Warm and affordable houses prevent ill health, they help our children do well in school and ensure some of our most vulnerable people feel more secure. This is why our focus on creating decent homes and tackling fuel poverty is so important. Since its launch almost 10 years...
Lesley Griffiths: ...a consultation in the new year on the impact of banning the third-party sales of puppies and kittens in Wales, and as I say, we will be doing that early in the new year. I think you're right about education, and certainly the work that I've been doing with Julie Morgan and the meetings we've had with Councillor Dilwar Ali and David Joyce—. I mean, some of the photographs that David has...
Lesley Griffiths: ...bodies, NHS Wales, national parks and local authorities. You mentioned Cardiff Airport, they've just recently announced they are bringing forward their own commitment and, of course, our higher education institutions are also increasingly adopting it. I think we all need to make that commitment. We all need to talk about the living wage and to spread that message very widely. You'll be...
Lesley Griffiths: ...feet by enhancing our marine science and data collection capability. So, working with academia at a strategic and operational level is very much an important component of our research work, and the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University have been a very valuable partner to us in recent years. Compared to the terrestrial environment, there is sometimes limited evidence on the...
Lesley Griffiths: ...those questions. I think you raise a very important point about individuals becoming dog owners—that was the one you spoke about. I think it is good for health and well-being. I've attended the education classes that Dogs Trust run, for instance, and as you say, it's mandatory if you get your pet from one of these establishments. I don't think we would look at making it mandatory, but I...
Lesley Griffiths: ...by these animals, as well as the disease risks they may pose. I believe the potential banning of third-party sales is worthy of investigation and I will be discussing options with officials. Education is a key aspect of this. Potential and existing pet owners must consider the future when deciding whether or not to own an animal, including how to meet its welfare needs and the costs...
Lesley Griffiths: ..., Llywydd. The quality of the places where people live and work has a direct impact on well-being. It is vital that people can walk from their homes to work, to the shops, doctors' surgeries and schools their families use without having to get in their cars. This has a positive impact on mental and physical health, as well as reducing emissions and improving air quality. Access to...
Lesley Griffiths: ...now, and we can make sure that we have a look at if there is a way to obviously include them in the funding. Reducing food miles is very important to me, and I think you're absolutely right about schools, for instance, trying to source food within a smaller radius. I've had discussions with Cabinet colleagues around the National Procurement Service improving opportunities for sourcing...
Lesley Griffiths: .... I want to continue to, obviously, manage water supply, improve water quality, improve air quality, look at our landscape and our heritage, and I'm also very keen to look at health and access and education opportunities. Food production will come under economic resilience and, again, alongside that, we'll be looking at support for sustainable improvement, particularly around precision...
Lesley Griffiths: ...environmentally sustainable and vibrant. The policies within it will provide a framework for rural housing, for instance, which you referred to, but also services, facilities—including health and education—and employment and connectivity. That's to make sure that our rural communities retain and attract people and obviously help deliver a much more prosperous and sustainable rural...
Lesley Griffiths: ...Swansea city deals—the proposed north Wales and mid Wales growth deals also, if those bids are approved—by setting out our strategic spatial policies on housing, on employment, on transport, on education, on digital infrastructure, on tourism. And I have had conversations with all my Cabinet Secretary colleagues ahead of this stage also. In relation to housing, I've also met with the...
Lesley Griffiths: ...exhibits, because we know there are not that many wild animals in circuses—I think it's about 19—but we don't know the number of mobile animal exhibits that we have in Wales. We all know of schools that are visited by them, so I thought it was very important that we developed the licensing of the mobile animal exhibits, and as I say, we have other parts of the UK now looking at our...
