Lesley Griffiths: ...opportunity to describe what we're doing as a Government and it also reminds us of the need to maintain action to tackle fuel poverty. Living in a cold home can have a significant impact on health, educational attainment and overall social and economic well-being. The Welsh Government has been absolutely clear in our commitment to do everything we can to tackle fuel poverty. Wales has some...
Lesley Griffiths: ...I told them to be as ambitious as possible in meeting that, and if they could exceed it, that would be, obviously, beneficial for everybody. I can't see a time when we won't be bringing forward school milk, and, certainly, the farmers are telling me that it's very important that we continue to do that. I haven't had specific discussions, but I will make sure that I put that on the agenda.
Lesley Griffiths: ..., adding value and creating stronger supply chains. However, this is not just about the numbers. Food is about people—their health and well-being. At the grass roots, the Cabinet Secretary for Education has provided £0.5 million to support a school holiday anti-hunger initiative for primary schools. At the strategic level, work is starting on an obesity strategy for Wales. Of course,...
Lesley Griffiths: ...got Food Innovation Wales also based in Llangefni. We obviously back them, along with the other two centres across Wales, and they are a key strategic partner. I've also met with the local further education college to discuss what they're doing around food preparation. So, it is something that we're continuing to look at, and if you want to meet with me again for an update, I'd be very...
Lesley Griffiths: ...something stronger. He treated everyone the same, whether it was a constituent who sought his advice, whether he was chatting to royalty at the opening of the National Assembly, speaking to Eton-educated UK Government Ministers, or the bloke sat next to him at the bar in Mischief’s. He was full of fun, and very mischievous at times, but he took his role as an elected representative very...
Lesley Griffiths: ...sensibly, enforced even-handedly and are seen as a response to a genuine problem. However, I feel it is important they are accompanied by appropriate public engagement, awareness raising and wider education programmes. I believe this is essential to ensure a positive response from our citizens and a sustainable reduction in offending behaviour. I’m pleased to commend this motion to the...
Lesley Griffiths: I can’t give you a specific answer on the number, but we do know that Welsh schoolchildren can be exposed to high levels of pollution when they’re travelling to and from schools, just as much as when they’re on the school grounds. The Member will be aware that we have begun to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to help shape work around the clean air zone framework for Wales, and...
Lesley Griffiths: ...similar action. This means cutting both the direct energy consumption and carbon emissions of the public sector estate and the indirect emissions that come from the provision of services such as education, health and well-being, infrastructure and energy, transport and waste. This is not a new area for the public sector. Our original climate change strategy focused on actions around the...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The Welsh Government’s aim is to prevent littering from occurring in the first place. We support and fund a range of programmes focusing on education, improving enforcement action, and community engagement and involvement. By encouraging people to take pride in their environment we will achieve longer lasting improvements.
Lesley Griffiths: ...framework indicators, so that’s an area where you can hold us to account. I’ve committed to issue a new air quality policy guidance to local authorities next month, and that will recognise schools and active travel routes, amongst others, as sensitive receptor locations. And local authorities have to take a risk-based approach to where they site their monitors, but I think it’s...
Lesley Griffiths: .... I have the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board and, obviously the food and drink industry action plan, and I think that absolutely recognises the importance of healthy eating, particularly in our schools and in other parts of our public sector. We’ve also got the Peas Please initiative, which was started by the Food Foundation, and that’s bringing together farmers and retailers and...
Lesley Griffiths: ...raised were brought up in that. But, certainly, we can look to make sure that—. As I say, I am going to look at the legislation, and certainly alongside that we could look to have some sort of education campaign, as you suggest.
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. Our policy is to deliver programmes that bring together local people, groups, businesses and organisations to deliver services to improve where they live or work. This includes our eco-schools programme, which has 20 schools in inner Newport, empowering and inspiring young people to make positive environmental changes to their lives.
Lesley Griffiths: ...and had that very conversation with the owners. I think you’re right; we need to ensure that we absolutely maximise the procurement sector here in Wales. We need to look at our hospitals and our schools. I remember when I was health Minister undertaking some work in relation to lamb, and we couldn’t procure Welsh lamb because we had to have the cheapest, and looking at how we got...
Lesley Griffiths: ..., which you will appreciate doesn’t fall wholly within my portfolio. I mentioned in a previous answer that I’m due to have a meeting with my colleague Kirsty Williams, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, around issues to do with raising the information around food for our children and young people—where it comes from, et cetera. This will also fall within the Minister for public...
Lesley Griffiths: ...and young people learnt where their food came from. They were saying that, if you asked a child where an egg came from, they’d say the supermarket. It’s really important our children are educated, and that’s a discussion that I’m continuing to have. I’ve got a meeting coming up with both the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Cabinet Secretary for health to take this issue...
Lesley Griffiths: ...mutual benefits through knowledge transfer, cost savings and creating joint opportunities. Three hundred and eighty businesses are already engaged. I continue to support healthy eating in our schools and welcome the recent introduction of the food and nutrition GCSE. Innovation is a main consideration in the appraisal of food industry grant applications, and applications for product...
Lesley Griffiths: Thank you. The scientific literature review submitted earlier this year identified welfare considerations on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and in corporate events, entertainment and educational settings. I’ve written to UK Ministers and I’m considering all options, and will make a statement before the Christmas recess.
Lesley Griffiths: I thank the Member for that question. Professor Harris identified in his report that a large number of captive wild animals are being used in, as I say, corporate entertainment and in educational settings. To be honest, that area concerns me more, because I think that we don’t know the numbers that are being used or anything about their welfare. You will have seen the approach taken in...
Lesley Griffiths: ...my visit, despite the very heavy rain on that day in August. What struck me about that scheme was the total partnership working in the community, from your environmental organisations to the schools to just local people who came along and helped. To see the thousands of trees that they’d planted was really fantastic.
