6. 4. Statement: Energy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:15 pm on 6 December 2016.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:15, 6 December 2016

You’re quite right, and the Minister for local government and finance is hearing what I say also. I’m pleased you recognise the good work that’s been done with Arbed and Nest. But you’re right: we absolutely have to accelerate programmes such as this if we are going to meet our targets. As I say, the one thing that COP22 taught me, talking to other states and regions, is we’ve got to continually be ahead of the game if we are going to reach those targets. So, I’m very happy to look at anything that will help us, particularly with fuel poverty and the vulnerable people that we need to assist there. I’m having discussions with officials, because you’ll be aware that my capital budget took a big hit due to the budget that we’ve been given by the UK Government, but I said in the Chamber last week that I’d already written to the Cabinet Secretary for finance and, as I say, those discussions are going forward. But if I don’t get the funding for me to be able to accelerate the programmes or look at different programmes, then we will have to look for alternative funding.