2. What plans does the Commission have to improve the environment around the Assembly? OAQ52903

As you will know there is very limited green space on the Assembly’s estate as much of the area is paved or tarmacked, but within these limitations we have introduced a number of environmental initiatives to provide habitats for wildlife and to increase the presence of pollinators in Cardiff Bay. The most recent initiative is the beehives set on the Pierhead roof, apparently.

I thank the Llywydd for that response. Last month I attended the event to launch the Commission's annual environment report and I was thrilled to be taken to the roof of the Pierhead building to see the two beehives the Commission has installed there in partnership with Cardiff University, whose aim is to make Cardiff the UK's first bee-friendly city. So, that's fantastic that we're contributing to that from here.

But one of the issues raised with me was the lack of bee-friendly plants around the Assembly estate, and I wondered if the Commission could consider some of the land that is not used and may not belong to us, but is actually surrounding this building—whether some sort of bee-friendly flowers or plants could be planted there. There was a scheme a couple of years ago to plant in the car park. There was an area of the car park, and staff took part in that and did it in their lunch hours and tended the flowers. So, I just wondered if that was something we could look at, particularly in view of the fact of this wonderful progress—this wonderful project of having the bees.

Unlike you, I've not been brave enough to visit the roof of the Pierhead to see the two beehives, but I'm very pleased that we're able to take part in that project. As you've suggested, there are a number of places around the estate where there has been planting of bee-friendly pollinators, and that includes the car park, and those plants and flowers remain in that car park. Also, around the Senedd building, you will have noticed the pot planting in the garden outside the Senedd cafe. We've had a recent meeting—our officials—with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to look as well at what can be done to attract more wildlife, and birds in particular, to the estate by means of nest boxes and a mini pond, possibly. Don't get excited at the prospect of a mini pond at the moment, but we're looking into a number of these issues—.

Can we have a swimming pool as well?

No, you can't have a swimming pool. [Laughter.] And as you've said, these are important contributions that we can make at a small scale in Cardiff Bay. But, obviously, we need to play our part so that we are putting our estate to some better natural and wildlife support than it probably has been in the past.

And question 3 is to be answered by Commissioner Joyce Watson. Question 3 is from Helen Mary Jones.