Lesley Griffiths: I wish to update Members on the Welsh Government's priorities for the future of rural development in Wales. In partnership with the EU, Wales will invest a total of £834 million in our EU RDP by the end of 2023. This has helped deliver significant value and resilience in our rural communities. During the period of the present RDP, we have witnessed the extraordinary rise of the Welsh food...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. You could say it's a bit of a coincidence, but I don't think there are any coincidences in politics. So, I think it is something that we will need to watch very closely and my priority, as always, is to continue to reduce to the lowest possible level the effect of pesticide use on people, on wildlife, on plants and, of course, on the environment.
Lesley Griffiths: The decision taken by the UK Government has no impact in Wales, therefore no assessment has been made.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. So, the decision taken by the UK Government has no impact here in Wales, so no assessment has been undertaken in relation to them doing this, and no application's been made for use in Wales, so no decision's been required by me. But no, I certainly would not want to do that, but, as I say, the impact of the English decision has no impact here in Wales. As you say, they did support...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Tackling the drivers for insect decline is central to our policies for increasing biodiversity. This includes introducing the agricultural pollution regulations and the clean air Bill White Paper. Both are vital measures that will deliver benefits for insects. The action plan for pollinators sets out further priorities for enhancing pollinator numbers.
Lesley Griffiths: Well, you heard me outline in my answer to Mick Antoniw the steps that I have taken. I certainly will look at anything I can do to help. I met with the seafood sector, as I said, on Monday this week, and, clearly, there are serious implications for the mussel industry and the cockles industry. I do want to work towards a resolution as quickly as possible, so I will continue to do all I can....
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you, and I think it's fair to say that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have definitely dropped a ball in relation to the live bivalve molluscs sector. I've been pressing George Eustice, the Secretary of State for DEFRA, to come forward with compensation for the whole of the sector. I regularly meet with the fishers and the seafood sector. I last met—. I think...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The seafood sector is experiencing an immediate and detrimental impact since leaving the European Union, with export issues affecting the whole supply chain. I continue to press the UK Government to resolve these issues and appropriately compensate the whole industry. In addition, it is essential that Welsh fishers receive their fair share of the modest additional quota delivered...
Lesley Griffiths: I absolutely agree that, if your home is flooded, it is heartbreaking and very, very traumatic, and we want to do all we can to protect as many homes as possible. You will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Jack Sargeant that this Welsh Government has put in over £360 million into our flood management schemes over the term of this Government. So, the money is there, the funding is...
Lesley Griffiths: So, you will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Darren Millar that there is funding available. We've put significant funding already—over £350 million—into our flooding schemes over this term of the Government, and there is further funding available. What is important is that you have the right measures in place. So, clearly, whatever comes out of the investigation into why the...
Lesley Griffiths: So, as the Member says, I have assured her and other Members that this will be brought in before the end of term. My understanding is there will be a debate next month in the Senedd, and the regulations enforcement date is September of this year.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Unfortunately, homes have been flooded as a result of storm Christoph throughout Flintshire, with early investigations recognising four properties in Sandycroft were affected. Representatives from the local authority, Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will meet again this week to understand causes and discuss if improvements can be made collaboratively.
Lesley Griffiths: Welsh Government has taken a range of steps to support the entire economy, as well as making specific funding available for the rural economy. I have recently protected the budget for farmers in 2021, and I've also announced a range of schemes through the rural development programme totalling £106 million.
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, I absolutely agree with you, and I think we all acknowledge that we're at a bit of a turning point, so I think we need to be different, don't we, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about a green recovery or a blue recovery, I think it is really important that—what you just referred to about better protection is something that we need to do. I think we need to engage society...
Lesley Griffiths: I think it's really important we do learn from each other, and, certainly, as part of the COP15 process, that will be done. We do play a really important role as a sub-national Government in that process and in the implementation and the mainstreaming of biodiversity. You'll be aware I also signed the Edinburgh declaration, which called on the convention on biological diversity to really...
Lesley Griffiths: Yes, that work has already started. My officials are working very closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs—because, obviously, the UK Government is the member state; they're the UK party to the convention—to influence the negotiation of any post-2020 global biodiversity framework. So, on a similar basis to how we work—and COP26 will be working in a similar...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The nature recovery action plan sets out our key actions to support the delivery of targets under the convention on biological diversity. These include investment in the restoration of protected sites and peatlands, creating a national forest and agricultural pollution regulations to tackle a key driver of biodiversity decline.
Lesley Griffiths: Not at all. I've already met with representatives from both the farming unions since last week, so I can assure you that that absolutely hasn't happened. What I think is that every Member of this Senedd should be standing together to address this significant problem, no matter which sector or industry is involved. I've done all I can to support the agricultural sector, and I will continue to...
Lesley Griffiths: Well, I'm not aware of the article that you're referring to, but, believe me, I have asked for many, many briefings around this. We have looked at very many different aspects of it, and I think we should also be very clear that the purpose of these regulations is not just to tackle nitrate pollution. Agricultural pollution includes other things, like phosphorus and ammonia and greenhouse gas...
Lesley Griffiths: I don't agree with you at all, and whilst we did see less agricultural pollution—substantiated ones—last year, you will appreciate that the site visits were not able to be undertaken in the way that they had been in previous years. But I go back to what I was saying: we are seeing, on average, three agricultural pollution incidents a week. I do not believe one second—. I mean, you're...
