2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:29 pm on 12 February 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 2:29, 12 February 2019

Thank you very much for raising those three issues. On the first, regarding bullying, as you say, the recent consultation is just coming to an end, and I know that the Minister will have more to say on that in due course. But it is worth reflecting at this point that our new curriculum will lead the way on LGBT+ issues, and will provide teachers with the opportunity to teach Welsh LGBT+ history. The first draft of the new curriculum will be published in April, and there will be a full-scale consultation within the education community and the wider public on that. 

You quite rightly raise the issue of transparency in supply chains, and the Minister was listening to your comments and he has indicated that he would be happy to bring forward a statement exploring the work that's being done, particularly through the economic contract. I can tell you also that you know that we've launched the ethical employment in supply chains code of practice, aimed at making those supply chains more transparent and preventing exploitation of workers by ensuring that they are treated fairly at every stage in the supply chain. And this is very much a first for Wales and a first for the UK, and I'm very pleased that we now have 159 organisations signed up to the code so far, and we obviously would expect all organisations, businesses and third sector organisations who are in receipt of public sector funding to sign up to that code. 

And, finally, you raised the issue of how Welsh Government is seeking to ensure that the correct penalties are paid for fly-tipping. Well, it is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a magistrates' court. And this can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years of imprisonment if convicted at a Crown Court. The Welsh Government is proposing to introduce new fixed penalties to help local authorities deal with household waste duty of care offences, and this additional enforcement tool will aim to reduce the amount of domestic waste being passed to unauthorised waste carriers.