<p>Slurry Lagoons</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:54 pm on 14 December 2016.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 1:54, 14 December 2016

With respect, I don’t have to have any discussions with my Cabinet Secretary colleagues because I’m responsible for planning, too. So, I’m able to restructure planning policy, particularly in light of the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. I think it’s really important that we have that strategic and long-term commitment within the planning system to promote sustainable development—that includes minimising pollution.

You’re absolutely right, the majority of farmers absolutely look after their land. The one thing that has struck me in my many discussions over the past few months with farmers is the pride they take in that land management and that they are so much more than food producers, for instance. The stewardship of land is something that I absolutely don’t think is recognised by the public in the way it should be. I have had several discussions with farmers when I’ve visited them, and I always ask to see their slurry lagoon—I think I’m getting a bit of a reputation—because it is such an important aspect of life for them. I know that some of them have had difficulties with planning, I can’t tell you how many or how specific it is to local objections, but it is important that our planning policy assists them where they want to do that.